What is a Jew

[bmolsson]

The bottom line is considering oneself something doesn't necessarily make it so. Designations should have some criteria. For religion, I think that baseline criteria is belief.

Belief in what ? The belonging to the ethnic group ? The family tradition ? The rules of life ? Belief in a modern society is more than a traditional deity.

No, but belief in one God is a necessary condition for being a Jew. You need to distinguish between necessary and sufficient conditions. For example: one who holds to the Five Pillars of Islam has met the sufficient condition for being Muslim.

I do distringuish, it's enough to be born a jew or a muslim to be a part of the respective religion.

Religion without religiosity is not religion. You need to distinguish between cultural designations and actual religion.

I think you confuse religions with cults and sects......