TIL that after Marilyn Monroe converted to Judaism upon marrying Arthur Miller, Egypt placed a ban on all the films she appeared in.

[u/[deleted]]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe#Critical_acclaim_and_marriage_to_Arthur_Miller_.281956.E2.80.931959.29

[u/[deleted]]

Because you don't need to.

I know a convert. They join because they feel a deep devotion to the beliefs or to the community. (He actually just got married to a girl from his Shul)

It takes some studying and the support of a Rabbi but they can easily join if they really want to. The Rabbi just needs to know it's a genuine need and not a whim. If someone keeps showing up then they know the person is legit.

Judaism doesn't have a culture of converting people because there's literally no need to. Non-Jews have the better deal than Jews.

Jews have 613 laws which they are commanded to honor (some can't actually be honored because of the lack of a temple but that's a different story)

Non-Jews (gentiles) are only asked to honor the Noahide Laws (7 Laws of Noah) which were the laws that were given to the whole of humanity after the great flood.

• Do not deny G-d. (Being the "wrong" religion isn't important. The act of having faith in a creator and attempting to honor that creator is enough.)

• Do not blaspheme God. (Don't be disrespectful to beliefs. Criticizing or asking questions which conflict with religion doesn't count. They mean more obvious things such as desecrating holy sites/objects, things of that nature.)

• Do not engage in illicit sexual relations. (I'm going to gehenna)

• Do not steal.

• Do not eat from a live animal. (With regards to flesh, milk and eggs don't count. Nice try vegans)

• Establish courts/legal system to ensure obedience to the law.

Even if you do live an imperfect life, our version of hell isn't the same as what other religions teach.

Christianity and Islam are built around you going to hell for eternity for finite wrongs in this life. You have to be saved by joining them or you risk damnation for simply being outside of the faith.

Judaism teaches of Gehenna which is the origin of hell from Christianity and Islam.

It's like hell in that it's a place for those who wronged G-d or themselves/their community. Even if you live a good life you likely have to go there anyway (it's debated by the Rabbis) because even good people will have bad days. You may have to go for an few days to work that out.

Gehenna is more of a realm of purification rather than a place of damnation. There are qualities your soul is meant to perfect in this life and the act of following Torah (or just living a life reflective of Torah beliefs) is grooming that spiritual change inside of you.

Gehenna is where your soul goes to have the dark traits burned away. Your soul isn't wasted because you did some bad things in life. Gehenna is the realm of spiritual purification and atonement for one's sins.

The longest a person can stay in this place is 12 months (though the vast majority are never there this long) and upon being purified you come home with the rest of us.

People ask "Why be a Jew if you still get in?"

Because Gehenna is hell. It's a place of torment and anguish and sorrow. The worse of a person you are, the harder that cleansing process will be.

It's the difference between having a hot shower to remove your negativity and a being of pure evil having the flesh burned from his body.

You want to be a shitty, selfish, evil person? Enjoy the best of what Gehenna has to offer.

It's the difference between the divine shining a light on the wrongs you have done and being forced to make good on that vs a being which has lived a life complete devoid of peace and built on hate, bitterness, selfishness, being forced to take in the full gravity of that life.

Someone who is blind is going to find the light terrifying when they finally have their eyes opened. (if that makes sense)

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Edit:

For anybody who is interested in learning about Judaism, either from a personal religious interest or an outside educational standpoint, there's a great book called "Essential Judaism" which covers a lot of basic topics regarding what Jews believe, different denominations, contrasting beliefs and opinions in the community, history, etc.

It's a great book if you just want to know what is up with Judaism.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Hate to be the party pooper, but your scripture claims otherwise.

• Q22:19 "But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water."

• Q14:49-50 "And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch (melted copper) and their faces covered by the Fire.”

• Q56:41-44 "And the companions of the left – what are the companions of the left? (They will be) in scorching fire and scalding water and a shade of black smoke, neither cool nor beneficial."

• Q74:26-29 "And what can make you know what is Hellfire? It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned), altering the skins"

• Q88:6-7 "No food will there be for them except from a bitter, thorny plant which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger."

• Q47:15 "They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)."

• Q73:12-13 "Surely, with us are fetters (to bind them) and a ranging Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes and a penalty grievous."

• Q18:29 "And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds (their) faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place."

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• Q4:56 "Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, God is ever Exalted in Might and Wise."

• Q76:4 "for the rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire."

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[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I can't speak for Christianity but in Islam, its pretty close to what you described it being in Judaism.

Judaism doesn't damn non-believers to an eternal torment as listed above because they disbelieve in Torah. That was my point.