Zero Gods, Four Voices: Exploring Jewish Atheism and Secular Identity

I sat at my laptop and hit “Send,” feeling like a total intruder. Yes, they had agreed—but still. Here I was, a convert nudnikit (AKA totally annoying), emailing questions about God to people who had been Jewish their whole lives and hadn’t thought about Him in years—or ever.

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Why bother these kind-hearted people? I wanted to clear up a common question many non-Jews have: How can someone be Jewish and an atheist? It sounds like a contradiction—but it isn’t. I reached out to hear directly from Jews who happen to be atheists, and to share their voices with you. I’m so grateful they agreed to play along; this post exists because of their honesty.

Meet the Panel

There are four voices joining us from the atheist side of the Jewish world: a psychologist, born in New York City to a family with roots in Eastern Europe; a patent attorney, born in Central Europe and a survivor of German occupation; a sociologist, born in the UK to refugee parents from Germany; and a linguist, born in Israel to a Tunisian family, now a biblical scholar in London.

The "No-God" Logic

Atheism for them wasn’t rebellion—it was reality. For the Psychologist, God was a non-factor growing up. “My parents were atheists,” she said. When it came up, it was just to confirm He didn’t exist. The Sociologist was shaped by the Holocaust; her mother discovered after the war that her parents had died in Auschwitz, leading to the question: “How can there be a God?”

The Attorney feels science will explain everything. He married his Jewish love at a Town Hall, noting that "God was not invited." For him, the connection was shared history, not faith. Meanwhile, the Linguist remembers that during Bar Mitzvah prep, praying simply felt "stupid" because "no one is listening."

The Identity

How do they describe their Jewishness? The Linguist sees it as just an attribute, “like having black hair.” The Sociologist notes that even in a town where the “greatest sin was to be different,” she never denied her Jewishness. For the Psychologist, the label is grounded in being culturally or ethnically Jewish—it is a baseline identity that doesn't require religious practice.

The Psychologist, Linguist, and Attorney embrace ‘atheist’—a clear ‘no’ to the divine. The Sociologist leans humanist, believing happiness comes from being "recognized, smiled at, and remembered." She does not believe in a heavenly power that keeps an eye on her.

Life, Death, Latkes—and What It All Means Life after death?

The Attorney and Psychologist gave a firm “No.” The Sociologist imagines it as a “deep sleep,” living on in the memories of others. The Linguist is more agnostic: "If there is, it’s not what we imagine."

Then I had to ask about their favorite food—the undeniable heart of Jewish life ^_^. The Psychologist goes straight for latkes, the Attorney dives into a salt beef sandwich with dill gherkins, and the Linguist can’t resist Israeli hummus. As for the Sociologist, she couldn’t settle on a single favorite—she loves them all.

Maybe I should start sharing favorite recipes here someday… Would that be something you’d be interested in, dear readers?

But beyond belief and food, what does it mean to be Jewish?

For these four, it isn’t about a man in the sky—it’s history, culture, humor, and showing up for the people who matter. It’s something you carry with you, whether lightly or heavily.

This is just the first tile in the Mosaic Project. I’ll explore more people—from those who are “Secular Plus” to those who took another path.

But for now: is your identity something you believe… or something you feel? Like a smell, a meal, or a song that hits before you even have time to think.

Thank you to my four contributors for sharing their stories—and tolerating my nudnikit emails.

P.S. I now realize I have a label problem! Stay tuned for my upcoming "Rebrand Pending" post. ^_^

I forgot to ask about games, but in Tel Aviv, shesh besh is the clear winner—a secular ritual played out on a mosaic board.

This post is inspired by my memoir about my journey in Israel—how I converted to Judaism to fit in and please my in-laws, and remaining a non-believer. The manuscript is currently seeking publication. Thank you for reading—feel free to share, explore more posts, and consider subscribing!

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- Why I Wrote This Memoir 

- Searching for the Perfect Title for my Jewish Conversion Memoir

- Why I Converted to Judaism as an Atheist: It’s Not About Religion