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simple question, what is the purpose of being a Jew? Maybe this is the same question, or a second question, but what is the purpose of religion?

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File under: What is the meaning of life? I think this question is too vague, and does not have 1 correct answer, so should be closed. – avi Jul 13 '11 at 9:17
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If rephrased, it could be answerable under Hashkafah. "What is our purpose as Jews"? The broader question about religion should be filed as a separate question in a different forum. – Seth J Jul 13 '11 at 18:16
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"What is the purpose of being a Jew?" only makes sense to me if you're asking it about a convert. Everyone else either is a Jew or isn't. I mean, you don't ask "What is the purpose of that thing's being an apple?", do you? – msh210♦ Jul 13 '11 at 18:23
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And "What is the purpose of religion?" makes no sense to me when one's talking about Judaism, because, well, Judaism is more than what's normally thought of as a religion: it's a whole way of living. The purpose of a way of living? Well, to live. – msh210♦ Jul 13 '11 at 18:24
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android.nick, please address the above comments and clarify/sharpen your question, and we'll consider re-opening. – Isaac Moses Jul 13 '11 at 18:30

closed as not a real question by avi, Ernest Friedman-Hill, Seth J, Isaac Moses Jul 13 '11 at 18:31

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

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1)in short: to do mitsvot.

2)first of all you should define what you consider to be religion. if you see it simply as a culture, inherent to every human being (even the atheist, you could say that this is his religion). every person has his collection of values. even the non religious guy. let's say you now someone from work that drinks coffee every lunch. religiously one could say.

so if everything is religion, religion is nothing. one devotes himself to frivolous things (collecting stamps, chasing pleasure (btw this would be considered avoda zara)) I choose to devote to more spiritual ones. I'm not questioning why or if is right or is wrong, each person has the right to choose what is important for his life.

so the question could be formulated as why to devote to something, or why to give importance to anything at all. I assume the answer should be obvious to you, so asking why to give importance to something is anon question.

so you should instead ask more specific things people do, such as: what is the purpose you collect jedi figures? what is the purpose you read this old book? what is the purpose you follow the rulings of the book that the transportation authority wrote? why is the purpose of praying?

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