Could a Ben-Noach actively practice a religion other than Judaism as long as it isn't considered avoda zara? Suppose, for example, he was born Muslim. Could he continue to actively follow Islam and still be considered to be following the Noachide laws?
3 Answers
While I do not mean to suggest that they cannot have a portion in the world to come, if they do keep the 7 mitzvos, they are nevertheless not permitted to observe another religion:
The general principle governing these matters is: They are not to be allowed to originate a new religion or create mitzvot for themselves based on their own decisions. They may either become righteous converts and accept all the mitzvot or retain their statutes without adding or detracting from them. Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Melachim 10:9
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Not creating a new religion does not mean they are not allowed to follow an existing religion Aug 21, 2012 at 18:53
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2@CharlesKoppelman, that is clearly not a distinction justified in the Rambam, he makes it clear that their option is be a ben noach or convert Aug 21, 2012 at 22:35
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2Perhaps the down-voter could elaborate on what they found incorrect about my presentation of the sources or whether they just do not like the questions answer. May 22, 2013 at 15:49
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Rambam also says they may not make a sabbath or festival for themselves– user6591Oct 7, 2014 at 20:06
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@CharlesKoppelman yes it does because all other religions are created by peope– user8832Aug 8, 2019 at 6:52
Yes, a Ben Noach is allowed to practice another religion as long as it doesn't break any of the 7 Noahide laws.
As for your example, according to the Rambam Muslims have no problem with their belief system (obviously there are other issues that the Rambam does have - but that is not within the context of this discussion).
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Also note that many radical Muslims today believe that Jews are evil and want to kill us, so there's that...– Seth JAug 20, 2012 at 19:32
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3@SethJ I don't see the relevance. pzkd, a source is always appreciated.– Double AA ♦Aug 20, 2012 at 19:34
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3@SethJ but one can easily be a fully practicing Muslim who is accepted as such by other Muslims without wanting to kill Jews. So it seems as though the practice of Islam itself would be OK. Of course, it is obviously possible to be a practicing member of a non-avoda-zara religion and still not follow the other mitzvot b'nei noach.– DanielAug 20, 2012 at 19:44
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Rabbi Tzvi Freeman of Chabad.org has suggested that Noahides should draw on aspects of the traditional faith in which they were raised. For example, see here:
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/857823/jewish/Should-I-Convert-to-Judaism.htm
Under this line of thinking, a Noahide with Muslim roots should not practice Islam exactly, but a Noahidism with Islamic influences.
For example, perhaps post-Muslim Noahides will one day publish a volume with selections from the Koran, hadiths, etc., while leaving out anything that contradicts Judaism (such as the Muslim belief that the Jews edited the Torah to take out prophecies of the prophet Mohamed) or speaks negatively about Jews.
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1So after getting in touch with their own roots and then forming a society of noahides from many different religious backrounds they will end up being part of the Freemasonry:)– user6591Oct 8, 2014 at 2:01