They still believe in each other

[rug]

Barney Zwartz
April 14, 2012

TONIGHT, Danny Segal is going to want to pinch himself to be sure it's real. There he will be - a traditionalist, believing Jew - on stage at the Global Atheist Convention with his singer daughter Shelley, a new pin-up girl for the international atheist movement.

Danny, president of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, plays the violin and has his own klezmer (Jewish music) and dance band. Shelley, 25, has just returned from singing to 25,000 people at the Reason Rally in Washington, and will visit the US at least twice more this year for big atheism conventions.

On Monday, the day after the Melbourne convention ends, the singer-songwriter is launching what she believes is the world's first specifically atheist CD, titled An Atheist Album. All her own songs, they depict her journey to non-belief.

''I'm not confrontational, I care about how other people feel, but I won't compromise on being honest,'' she says.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/victoria/they-still-believe-in-each-other-20120413-1wyx9.html

[cbayer]

1. Gotta love that!

My son is probably going to convert to Catholicism and a daughter to Islam (both for the loves of their lives), and it just adds diversity to the family. We should have some great holiday dinners with my preacher dad, atheist husband and another son who sees the sky in different colors than any of us.

[longship]

2. Easter dinner sounds like a great opportunity

Maybe no ham (a bit boring maybe), but some possibilities. Good food always brings cultures together.

As a kid I grew up as one of the only Christian family in a wholly Jewish neighborhood. Our next door neighbors would celebrate Christmas and Easter with my family and we would celebrate Passover and Honukkah with them. It was nice, very nice.

In high school my family sponsored an exchange student from Turkey, a Moslem. His religion was never an issue for him, nor for my family. There were many Turkish delights for meals that year, and everybody's eating habits were disrupted during Ramadan, each night ending in a huge feast. Yummy!

[cbayer]

3. I think they will all be at the table for Thanksgiving.

They live all over the place (one as far as Kenya).

We all get along great and really enjoy discussing our religious and non-religious differences. We could use a jewish and hindu addition!

I'm with you. I really enjoy sharing other people's rituals, particularly the seder.

[longship]

4. Yum! Kasha!

Not sure if it's kosher for Seder, but reformed Jews certainly ate it for Seder dinner. Sure was tasty.

Wonderful lamb and rice during Ramadan.