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Ed Miliband - Atheist

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Graudian | 15:56 Tue 21st Apr 2015 | Religion & Spirituality
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He has said that he wants to be the first British Prime Minister
who is an atheist. He also claims he would be the first Jewish PM.

I'm not sure he is correct on either?
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Wasn't Disraeli Jewish?
Not quite according to Wiki:

" His father left Judaism after a dispute at his synagogue; young Benjamin became an Anglican at the age of 12."
I always thought it was something to do with the maternal line? If your mother was Jewish, then you are automatically Jewish, regardless of the faith of the father?
A jewish atheist is an oxymoran.
Apparently it is even more complex than I was led to believe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew%3F

Makes me feel that a Jew is whoever claims to be one and is accepted by other Jews, maybe.

Meanwhile, who cares what religion a PM is, just so long as they keep secular in their political decisions, and leave they religious faith to their own private moments.
THEIR
as I typed ! >:-(
I have never understood this thing about being Jewish.

Judaism is a faith, in the same way that Catholicism is. I stopped being a good little Catholic boy, when I stopped being a little boy, so I can't possibly still be called a Catholic can I ? I am an ex-Catholic but an extant Atheist.

So.... if Ed calls himself an Atheist, what damn difference does it make that his Mum was a Jew ? He is what he wants to be and that isn't Jewish !

I am not sure if we have ever had any declared Atheists as PM, but I wouldn't mind betting that some of them at least have paid lip service to
being Christian !

I am reminded of that joke about a young chap, on a trans-European train. He is trying to read his newspaper but the little old lady opposite keeps leaning forward and tapping him on the knee and interrupting him. She keeps asking him if he is Jewish and he patiently replies that, " No, I'm not Jewish"

But she keeps on and on, so eventually he says, in exasperation, " OK, for pity's sake, I'm Jewish !

The old lady replies...." Now thats funny, because you don't look Jewish ! "
Agree with Vulcan. How can you be Jewish and an atheist? Just about sums up the thought processes inside his head.
Is there any evidence that Ed wants to be both an Atheist and a Jew ?

Perhaps he is proud of his Jewish background, and wants to hang on to the
"flavour" of it ?

My background is both Catholic and Irish, and whatever else I might want to do on a Sunday morning instead of going to Mass, I would never want to lose my heritage !
So,do you describe yourself as an atheist?
Don't think he will ,call me old fashion but don't you need to the biggest party or a combination of parties .nick and Davy will return all ready to go again .if I get 3/1 I'm on .
Yes, of course I do Zacs...I have already done so, many, many times !

But I always add, if requested, that I was brought up as a Catholic, and that my Dad was Irish. People should not confuse genetics and belief, and so many Jews seem to do so.

Doctor Jonathan Miller once described himself, on Parkinson, as a Jew but not very Jewish. I see from his Wiki entry, that he now refers to himself as an Atheist.
Fair enough. Doesn't seem to be very logical to me but I see what you mean.
I am not sure what you are find illogical Zacs, unless I am missing some subtlety here. I am an Atheist.....is that what you are finding illogical ?

Genuinely confused Zacs !
Mikey, sorry for the late reply.

I'm not sure why you're confused. I can't quite reconcile someone's claim to be atheist and then to describe themselves as aligned with a particular religion.
I understand now Zacs !

I suppose its because Ed identifies with his family's Jewish past. His Mum, who was a Polish Jew, survived the Holocaust and his Dad fled to England during WW2. So although Ed now says he is an Atheist, it must be difficult not to identity with that sort of background, with his family being persecuted for being Jewish.

My father also experienced problems as a young boy, growing up in NI as a Catholic in the 1920's and 1930's, although not on the same scale as the European Jews of course.
10 per cent off aint gonna get votes
Tambourine...10% off what ?
Err....jews
Er ?...right, I understand now (?)

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