Position Statement of Kol Shalom on Secularism and Religion
(Board Adopted Sept. 14, 2002)

Kol Shalom, Community for Humanistic Judaism, is part of the larger Jewish community as well as the humanistic community and is an affiliate of the Society for Humanistic Judaism.

Members of Kol Shalom vary in their beliefs about larger forces in nature. Beliefs range from atheism to God as Nature and other personal interpretations. The unifying philosophy of Kol Shalom and of the Society for Humanistic Judaism is that human beings have the power and responsibility to shape their lives and care for the world, independent of an interventionist deity or any supernatural power; and that the Torah and other religious texts are entirely human creations. Humanistic Judaism is a belief system or faith based in humanism and the heritage of the Jewish people, rather than in theism. Our rituals and ceremonies do not include language that suggests belief in the supernatural.

Members may participate in our many activities including Jewish holiday celebrations, education, social action, Shabbat, Havdalah and other observances, for secular, religious, spiritual, personal or cultural reasons, or any combination of these. No matter what the nature of our connection to Kol Shalom, all of us are invited to share and participate in all activities.

We believe that the umbrella of Humanistic Judaism is extraordinarily valuable in providing a Jewish connection and home for non-theistic Jews and non-Jews, whether they view the connection as religious, secular or cultural. Kol Shalom encourages and welcomes all those who share these views to join us.