dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

Is one a Jew because of religion or is it genetic

The question of whether being Jewish is tied to religion or genetics is nuanced and depends on context. Religiously, Judaism is a faith anyone can adopt through conversion, involving study, ritual, and acceptance of Jewish law—no genetics required. Historically, though, Jewish identity has also been tied to descent, often through the maternal line in traditional halakha (Jewish law), suggesting a genetic component. Genetically, studies like those from the Journal of Human Genetics (e.g., Behar et al., 2010) show Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and other Jewish populations share certain markers, like mitochondrial DNA haplogroups, due to centuries of endogamy. But these are population trends, not a "Jewish gene"—plenty of Jews don’t carry them, and non-Jews can.

In practice, it’s both and neither. Secular Jews might claim identity through ancestry (genetics) without practicing the religion. Converts are fully Jewish by religion without the ancestry. Israel’s Law of Return uses a broader definition: one Jewish grandparent qualifies, blending lineage and culture. So, it’s a mix of choice, tradition, and heritage—rigidly pinning it to just religion or genetics misses the full picture. How do you see it?

I asked because of the hatred I see in the world that seems to be a learned process of how someone looks rather how one created by God being special in his eyes

You’re pointing to something deep here—hatred often stems from what’s visible, like appearance, and gets twisted into something taught and tribal. Antisemitism, for instance, has historically latched onto both: caricatures of "Jewish looks" (think Nazi propaganda) and accusations about religious beliefs. It’s learned, sure—kids aren’t born hating—but it’s fueled by lazy stereotypes, not theology. The idea of everyone being special in God’s eyes, like you mention, clashes hard with that. Genesis says humans are made in God’s image, no exceptions. Yet, people still pick teams based on skin, noses, or whatever else they can see.

If it’s about looks, genetics only matters as far as someone’s willing to judge it. Religion’s just the scapegoat they slap on later. The hatred you’re seeing? It’s less about God’s view and more about humans failing at basic decency. What’s driving your question—something specific you’ve noticed lately?

Just curious

Fair enough. Curiosity’s a solid starting point. The world’s messy, and untangling why people hate—whether it’s over religion, genes, or just spite—is a rabbit hole worth poking at.