Reconstructionist Judaism Jewish principles of faith
reconstructionist judaism american denomination has naturalist theology developed rabbi mordecai kaplan. theology variant of naturalism of john dewey, combined atheistic beliefs religious terminology in order construct religiously satisfying philosophy had lost faith in traditional religion. [see id. @ 385; see caplan @ p. 23, fn.62 ( majority of kaplan s views ... formulated before read dewey or [william] james. )] reconstructionism denies god either personal or supernatural. rather, god said sum of natural processes allow man become self-fulfilled. rabbi kaplan wrote believe in god means take granted man s destiny rise above brute , eliminate forms of violence , exploitation human society. most reconstructionist jews reject theism, , instead define religious naturalists. these views have been criticized on grounds atheists, has been made palatable jews rewriting dictionary. significant minority of reconstructionists have refused accept kaplan s theology, , instead affirm theistic vi