I was raised a good Lutheran. Well, not really a good Lutheran. More along the lines of I was Lutheran because that is where I got baptized and then my mom decided that some promise to G-d made on my behalf obligated me to get confirmed. And I loved it for a long time, there's no hostility towards my church or the community. It was a good time and gave me some self-confidence that I was missing.

Fifteen years later, I am converting to Judaism. I don't have a rabbi formally training me, I don't know when this is going to happen. But it will happen. I am Shomer Shabbez, Kashrut observant and I am koshering for Passover. No, I don't know who else is Jewish although I look it (and if I can prove that the great great grandmother or the maternal grandmother's maternal grandmother is Jewish like I suspect, I wouldn't have to convert.) and I had no inclination to becoming Jewish when I was a kid. I wanted to be at various points in my life Christian, Buddhist, Scientologist, vague secular humanist, touchy feely tree hugger, Muslim, Unitarian, Quaker, Pagan, Voodoo practicioner, High Magician, and atheist. Everything has lead me to Judaism in one way or the other.

The problem that I face and the problem I need to work out is the big question of WHY? Why would any sane thinking person want to join a religion where people tend to shoot at you? Is that worldwide conspiracy really that powerful? What about sin atonement, prophecies, and such? What if the Christians are right and I would go to hell for my outright rejection of their Jesus? Why do I want to follow the Torah and not eat pork?

Actually none of those questions matter too much and they are trivial concerns. Real concerns are why I chose this religion in particular. Why is Judaism better than all other religions for me? Am I doing this simply because I am disgusted with Christianity? How can I stay Shomer Shabbas after I convert when the Synagogue is across town and I live in Minnesota?

In these essays I will try to explore why I love Judaism and why I've chosen it for my life perspective.