is barry greenstein jewish?

[Gstauf5420 0]

Judaism is a religion.  It's not a race.  If you do not believe in a God or Gods...you are NOT Jewish.  You act like if my mother is baptist...I'm bastist...and my opinions and beliefs chan't change things.  How silly.Please separate religion from bloodline.  Politics and religion are very much alike.They both crave power and money.Nuff said.~Lance

u are dumb

[mosesXcore 0]

Barry is more Jewish than Moses.

[elkang 0]

I understand Daniel's point, but it is impossible to please all people, especially Christians, as they are such a disjointed group ideologically that they are fractured and splintered into subgroups many of which are offended by the idea of gambling period, so its really pointless to try and not offend Christians its impossible to tell what might or might not offend.

We mostly agree, but I don't think it is pointless. Maybe a bit futile... anyway these differences should be brought up and known. Just because the name "Jesus" is in popular use doesn't mean that its absolutely okay to use it any way you want. It makes it easier to do that,but that should not have bearing on whether something is good or bad.

[Municipal Hare 0]

Calling oneself an atheist is kind of silly.  How do you prove a negative?  How do you prove God doesn't exist?  A more correct term would be agnostic.

No. Atheism is the correct term to describe those who believe in a godless universe. Whether the burden of proof ought to be put on theists, atheists, or both – and, indeed, whether either could prove their point – is another matter.Say your great grandmother believes in werewolves. Given our inability to prove the negative, would you thereby insist that the world be divided into "werewolf-believers" and "agnostics"?

[harvey 0]

totally wrong. totally wrong. Judaism is NOT a religion. It's a race.

Wow, such a strong statement. A blatantly, almost laughably, incorrect statement, but strong just the same with all the "wrongs" and "totally" and capital letters and whatnot...

Calling oneself an atheist is kind of silly. How do you prove a negative? How do you prove God doesn't exist? A more correct term would be agnostic.

You don't have to PROVE god doesn't exist to be an atheist, you just have to have faith. :wink:

[maurile 0]

Calling oneself an atheist is kind of silly.  How do you prove a negative?  How do you prove God doesn't exist?  A more correct term would be agnostic.

Calling oneself a Christian is kind of silly. How do you prove a positive? How do you prove God exists? A more correct term would be agnostic.

[richship 0]

I'm disappointed in Daniels post. His journal entries that mentioned his religion always seemed positive, but this seems to fall into the narrow-minded, judgemental Christian trap.Rich

[Jeff 0]

My father thinks he is from the name, I bet him 120 dollars that he wasn't, is Barry Greenstein Jewish?Yes or No?

Each of us ask this question of ourselves at services each week.

[speedz99 145]

Nicknames:Jesus = +EVUnabomber = -EVJudaism :Religion - yesCulture - yesRace - noStop arguing. As always, I am correct.

[JasonBo 0]

i reserve the poker name kock knocker

[elkang 0]

I'm disappointed in Daniels post. His journal entries that mentioned his religion always seemed positive, but this seems to fall into the narrow-minded, judgemental Christian trap.Rich

I'm sorry you don't understand his motivation. I thought it was very clear and reasoned. Now, you may not buy into the other stuff about the divinity of a man, but for Pete's sake surely you can see how something that used to be a major taboo ("using the Lord's name in vain") can still affect people today.I'm glad he's being honest. I wouldn't have made a fuss about it - since it is so prevalent - but maybe that's my bad. In any case, DN is talking specifically about his own opinions and views regarding pro poker nicknames. Note that he is more offended by the "Unabomber" name and also gives his reasons. Daniel places value on these public image type things.I've had relatives killed in terrorist attacks... now, I don't care too much about nicknames like Osama or what not as I consider it a waste of my energy, but I can surely sympathsize with thoses that it offends due to some deep conviction or belief system.

[UnionGuy 0]

Let me simplify this a bit. Judaism is both a culture and a religion. I'm almost positive that Barry was born to Jewish parents which in essence makes him Jewish. Whether he practices Judaism is a completely different story. For the record, I am Jewish. During World War 2, Germany wasn't concerned with people that were practicing Judaism. Either they were Jewish or they weren't. That had everything to do with heritage and not god. My intention is not to get into an argument or discussion about religion. It's an argument that can never be won in my opinion. But people are born the way that they are, like it or not.

Steve is 100% correct on this. I'm a Jew in the same way that Greenstien is a Jew. I don't believe in God, but I've been known to be self-depricating and have a big nose. I also have a huge Jewish family and used to date the daughter of a Rabbi.

[UnionGuy 0]

Let me simplify this a bit. Judaism is both a culture and a religion. I'm almost positive that Barry was born to Jewish parents which in essence makes him Jewish. Whether he practices Judaism is a completely different story. For the record, I am Jewish. During World War 2, Germany wasn't concerned with people that were practicing Judaism. Either they were Jewish or they weren't. That had everything to do with heritage and not god. My intention is not to get into an argument or discussion about religion. It's an argument that can never be won in my opinion. But people are born the way that they are, like it or not.

Steve is 100% correct on this. I'm a Jew in the same way that Greenstien is a Jew. I don't believe in God, but I've been known to be self-depricating and have a big nose. I also have a huge Jewish family and used to date the daughter of a Rabbi.

[Project 2501 0]

Why say you are going to stop when you had no intention to? Did he think I wouldn't find out? His word holds little weight with me.

if i was in his situation, i would have said i was going to stop too. makes the moment much more comfortable then telling you off. and at the end of the day, why should he be concerned if you found out?as far as the nickname goes, as much as that name means to some, to others it's just a name. so for those of us who choose not to take offense, it seems a non issue. live and let live i guess.

[bocablkr 0]

Calling oneself an atheist is kind of silly. How do you prove a negative? How do you prove God doesn't exist? A more correct term would be agnostic. This is coming from someone who doesn't believe the good book.If anyone is interested, a great book to pick up on the topic is called Farewell to God. You can get it on Amazon. A former mass evangelist bigger that Billy Graham starts to question his faith and writes a book about dissecting the bible and poking holes in it. It is good ammunition against the bible thumper. If you are a bible thumper, nothing will question your faith, because your belief is purely speculation. If you are a voracious reader, its worth a read...DanielI can't believe I just posted something serious.

You are wrong! An atheist does not believe in God at all - an Agnostic is not sure. That is a big difference. I do not believe in God at all. I do not have to be able to prove a negative in order to feel that way. To imply that I am Agnostic means that I have some doubt which I don't. And by the way I am Jewish. You do not have to believe in God to be Jewish unlike the other major religions. Once a Jew, always a Jew. You are born into Judaism.

[Mattnxtc 0]

Without reading all the posts, i wanted to comment on a few things i saw. First off I am not sure why it is supposed to be the "christian right" that are out to destroy poker. I play poker, Im a christian and I am heavily involved with my church. I am in weekly contact with Pastors from my church and I have never been afraid to mention that I make the majority of my spending money playing poker online and we have even talked about online poker and how the level of competition is different and all. So to group "christian rights" all in one group is ridiculous. Are there people out there on the right that dont agree with poker? probably...are there probably liberals that dont agree with it to? probably. LIke i said I am a christian and though I am not necessarily offended by Fergusons nickname..Whether I think its right depends a lot on his reasoning for having the name which most of us wont know. If anybody is going to know his reasons its goign to be DN and if he seems to think that Ferguson is doing it to mock christians then yeah I will say that I think it is offensive too.

[CaneBrain 96]

I'm disappointed in Daniels post. His journal entries that mentioned his religion always seemed positive, but this seems to fall into the narrow-minded, judgemental Christian trap.Rich

I'm sorry you don't understand his motivation. I thought it was very clear and reasoned. Now, you may not buy into the other stuff about the divinity of a man, but for Pete's sake surely you can see how something that used to be a major taboo ("using the Lord's name in vain") can still affect people today.I'm glad he's being honest. I wouldn't have made a fuss about it - since it is so prevalent - but maybe that's my bad. In any case, DN is talking specifically about his own opinions and views regarding pro poker nicknames. Note that he is more offended by the "Unabomber" name and also gives his reasons. Daniel places value on these public image type things.I've had relatives killed in terrorist attacks... now, I don't care too much about nicknames like Osama or what not as I consider it a waste of my energy, but I can surely sympathsize with thoses that it offends due to some deep conviction or belief system.

I do understand Daniel's motivation.....I just don't like it. If Ferguson gave himself that nickname it would be one thing (although I personally still would not have a problem with that but I could see why people would) but in this case other people foisted this nickname upon chris ferguson. It is not his fault people equate tall, skinny guys with long flowing hair with the Christian savior. I think daniel is getting bent out of shape over nothing there. (Whereas on the unabomber thing I agree with him fully) There are plenty of people in the world with the name Jesus. The nickname solely refers to his appearance. Would you be mad if they nicknamed a guy Moses? Especially if it was only because he looked like Charlton Heston did in the Ten Commandments? I think not. Jesus is just a nickname that has stuck and it hurts no one.Also, this really goes to the heart of my deep fundamental problems with religion and those who take it seriously.....What is the fuss over a name? Wouldnt a rose by any other name smell just as good (to paraphrase shakespeare)? If Daniel is really serious about his religious beliefs he should worry about following Christ's teachings and not worry about other nonsense.....this is something every person who feels the need to push their religion on others should think about.

[Jeff 0]

RichI think daniel is getting bent out of shape over nothing there. (Whereas on the unabomber thing I agree with him fully) There are plenty of people in the world with the name Jesus. The nickname solely refers to his appearance. Would you be mad if they nicknamed a guy Moses? Especially if it was only because he looked like Charlton Heston did in the Ten Commandments? I think not. Jesus is just a nickname that has stuck and it hurts no one.Amen

[BETNFOOL 0]

My father thinks he is from the name, I bet him 120 dollars that he wasn't, is Barry Greenstein Jewish?Yes or No?

ok im going to get some flames for this one Barry can't be jewish. he gives his money away.

[CaneBrain 96]

My father thinks he is from the name, I bet him 120 dollars that he wasn't, is Barry Greenstein Jewish?Yes or No?

ok im going to get some flames for this one Barry can't be jewish. he gives his money away.

Haha....I am jewish but hey a sense of humor is a great thing to have. Whats the point of Jewish football??? to get the quarter back. Heh. I think sometimes we all just need to lighten up a little....

[Rob-L 0]

Yes, I think you're right.  He is an aetheist.

I tried being an atheist, but they don't have enough holidays.

[nutonflop 0]

barry is jewish, and it doesnt matter if he's an atheist or not.  i am an atheist jew, and its perfectly fine. the only thing Jews are expected to believe is that there is not MORE than one god. you can believe in god, no gods, negative 6 gods, but not more than one.it doesnt matter, if your mom is jewish, then you are jewish. beliefs don't affect judaism. you win the bet.

I don't need to comment on how stupid that sounds. And yeah, how old are you or where are you from when Greenstein doesn't sound like a Jewish name?

[Rob-L 0]

Just wanted to say that most of you would not survive in NYC. As some mentioned, the question should be rhetorical. Barry's also pretty clearly an atheist. I am not qualified to talk about the Jewish experience and identity but I'm finding the Jewish portion of this thread to be pretty silly.I see Daniel's point... but this is the world we live in and being offended comes naturally and is part of this life. Personally, I think the idolatry and some of the mean spiritedness is more offensive than the nicknames used by some pros.

I don't know about all that, but your avatar is funny. I can't stop laughing!

[All_In 0]

That list is defintely not accurate.  As for Barry, he is a devoted atheist as is Chris Ferguson.  Although Chris is an atheist he signs autographs by adding in quotes "Jesus."    I let him know one night that some people may find that offensive and he said he didn't promote the nickname.  He then said that he wouldn't sign autographs like that anymore, but of course that was a lie.  I've signed tons of hats and t-shirts since and have seen Chris "Jesus" Feguson on many of those hats.  I can't say that I was surprised to see that's he'd lied, but it was a little disappointing.  Why say you are going to stop when you had no intention to?  Did he think I wouldn't find out?  His word holds little weight with me.    The fact that he is a atheist just makes it even uglier.  He tried to justify the nickname by saying that many Mexican families name their children Jesus.  However, with Chris, his use of the nickname simply mocks the majority of this country who believe that Jesus was our saviour and died a brutal death for our sins.      I'm not as offended by that nickname however as I am of Phil Laak's use of the "Unabomber."  What next?  We have people parading around with nicknames like "Hitler" and "Bin Laden?"    What the Unabomber Ted Kisinski did wasn't funny.  If I lost a loved one at the hands of the Unabomber I would be repulsed by the idea that people may be cheering "Go Unabomber."  Imagine for a second a mother watching that on TV?  How would she feel about it?  Exactly.

maybe ferguson signed those items before he said he would stop?

[CaneBrain 96]

barry is jewish' date=' and it doesnt matter if he's an atheist or not. i am an atheist jew' date=' and its perfectly fine. the only thing Jews are expected to believe is that there is not MORE than one god. you can believe in god, no gods, negative 6 gods, but not more than one.it doesnt matter, if your mom is jewish, then you are jewish. beliefs don't affect judaism. you win the bet.[/quote'']augmented....are you an atheist jew because your temple threw you out? I have never seen anyone so arrogantly post something that is just flat out WRONG.....jews can believe in negative 6 gods but not more than one? UGH. I am sure this was a poor poor attempt at humor....but it is also false. A person who truly believes in the Jewish faith believes that their is ONE god and that he is sending a messiah....but that messiah has not yet arrived (although some factions of Judiaism believe that Christ was that messiah and the rest of the jews just missed the boat)You can be born jewish and then decide to be athiest and believe in no god (or negative 6) but then you are not really Jewish anymore....you are someone who was born Jewish but decided that the core tenants of Jusiaism are not for them. And thats fine (it is the path I have chosen for now as always I keep my mind open). But if you believe in negative 6 gods or no god you arent really jewish.