My dad is totally against all of the above, on religious grounds. The thing is; I don't see it as a religious matter at all.
     I think that's the one thing I decided that I dislike about religions in general, and why I'll alternatively say I dunno if I believe in God or not. I think I do believe in God. BUT, all the dogmatic shit in religions; the take-it-all-or-leave-it-all mindset of the brick-set wall of laws; this I do not need.
     It seems like every religion, (well, mine admittedly less than some) have clauses along the following lines: "This is your concrete set of beliefs. You accept them as a whole or not at all. Disavowing a part makes you not a part of the religion at all.". It's like disagreeing with one issue makes you not a Jew, or Christian, or etc.

     Personally, I am more than happy to have gone through all my Hebrew school learning. I think I got nothing but good out of it and that all the stories and etc I learned instill morals, and ways of thinking, and faith, and (spiritual) goals. But there's two sides to the thing.
     Along with all the greatest teachings in almost every major religion, there's the ritual as well. This is the only part I find I don't appreciate. It's like there are two types of religious teaching. Positive, and symbolic. Moral teachings or life guides; and rules or rituals to be followed. I can see where both can have their virtues, but I'm not as into one as the other.

     Example: In manners, let's say: Appologizing and thanking are positive. Not in that they're good, but in that they have a purpose. They smooth over every day transactions and make other people happy. Using your fork in your left hand is a symbolic manner. (In America, at least.) It would make no difference which hand you used, really, but arbitrarily, the left hand is picked as a standard.
I dislike this analogy. I DO see the purpose in religious ritual. Rememberance; discipline; concrete physical example and proof of belief.

     In any case, I feel like I can break a ritual tenet of my religion without being a "bad Jew" or even disrespecting it's goals.
     The set of teachings is a great one, but even better if one can pick and choose what he or she wants for themselves. That which most applies. That which he most loves.
Baseline: The teachings are intended to teach someone how to live to be a good person, not simply how to live. These things, I think I have, and still do, try to learn and live out.

---Danny