Exodus to Humanism: Jewish Identity Without Religion

Ibry, a member of the British Association of Counselors, contends that Judaism is obsolete, but that it is possible to maintain a Jewish identity by embracing humanism. To buttress his argument, he sought others who might agree with him; he located 27 people who shared their ideas with him through interviews. However, Ibry's presentation is so confusing that it is difficult to separate his own views from the views of those he is interviewing. The book's limited range is further demonstrated by its failure to mention American Jewish humanists, a small but expanding group whose ideas echo Ibry's own. Eight marginally related chapters deal with a hodgepodge of subjects including morality, women, converts, exclusiveness and science. Occasional anecdotes enliven the discussion, but more typical of the book is an opaque linguistic analysis of life after death. Jewish humanism deserves a better declaration than this. (Apr.)