The Jewish confusion...

[Hexen]

At first I thought Jews were a religious group like Christians and Muslims to describe the believers of the Judaism religion but they also get referred as a ethnic group which confused me for a long time (which as if calling christians, muslims, hindus, buddahists,etc as a ethnic group). Should we use use the term Judaists to describe the believers of Judaism? Can anyone clear out the confusion between Jews as a ethnic group and the believers of Judaism?

[Prometeo liberado]

They are both. Collectively the tribes of Israel are referred to as Jews. Judaism is the religion of choice for most, not all, Jews. Though you will find believers of the Jewish faith from all ethnic backgrounds. Good question. Hope this helped.

[Sasha]

I'm going to confuse you some more, For me its primarily a cultural group, at least jiddish Judaism is.

[gorillafuck]

Judaism is a religion as well as a cultural/ethnic group. both are referred to as Jews. hence why someone can be a non-religious Jew.

[l'Enfermé]

It's not an ethnic group, it's a cultural-religious group mostly. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invention_of_the_Jewish_People) Not even neccesarily cultural, what cultural ties did Ashkenazi and Sephardi have a century ago? Ashkenazi Jews spoke a High Germanic-Slavic-Hebrew language, the Sephards spoke a language that was a mix of Castilian and Portuegese...different Jewish groups had distinct cultures. I think Jewishness is primarily a religious thing.

[OnlyCommunistYouKnow]

You could call them Israelites, if they're from Israel that is.