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You just aren't being fair. Some people decide for themselves that they think these rules (for lack of a better word) are for the best. Not everyone blindly follows their religion, and simply because they don't think the same way as you doesn't mean they aren't independent thinkers.

That's why I find it offensive.

I'm speaking in general terms. I do not think specifically about anything. I guess that's what I mean when I say my eyes are open. (Sorry for the confusion sweatdrop )
There are sooo many religions I just cannot choose one.
I don't know how any other person that is religious chooses one religion over another. (Don't they all have the same General message?) I can make decisions though, but I don't choose "favourites."
That's why I do not have many favourites (colour, band, etc) only things/people that I find most interesting (there's not a lot).
Also, there are soooo many rules that each religion has and I can't handle that. I mean, society's rules are too much for me. I despise structure. Religion is not for everyone. (I am NOT a lost soul.) I also despise people that actually pray for me to "find Jesus." I mean, they're usually random people that DON"T know me as a Person.

Much like me, you had a choice. You see not everyone gets a choice. That's what bothers me. Children are pushed into something they probably do not want to do. Kids just want to play.

This is one of the things that frustrates a lot of the Orthodox that I know, including myself: the lack of information that non-Orthodox Jews have concerning Orthodoxy.

1. Separating menstruating females.
Most of the time, you'll never know when an Orthodox woman is menstruating. We don't go to a hotel and live away from our families. We don't sleep in the garage, tool shed, guest house, back yard, car, or under a bridge. "Separation" means separating from one's husband, purely in terms of the sexual aspects of the marital relationship. We don't touch, even to hand one another objects, because we're meant to focus on the emotional and cerebral aspects of the relationship instead. It deepens the emotional bond, and the couple learn to communicate and express affection in non-physical ways. The constant flux of separation-reunion helps keep the marriage fresh -- every month, when the separation ends, it's just like a new honeymoon. Moreover, it helps a couple get used to expressing their love verbally and through acts of kindness, which is a good preparation for the time when a couple can't be near one another: one's out of town, or one's hospitalized (G*D forbid).

Moreover, you'll never know when an Orthodox woman is separated, because an Orthodox woman knows how to be discreet. She doesn't go shouting to the rooftops, "I can't make love to my husband tonight! I'm on my period!" Modesty (tzniut) prevents it. The only way you could possibly guess is if a woman has her hands full, there's nowhere to set down her belongings while she tries to use her cellphone or zip up her coat, and her husband doesn't automatically reach out a hand to take something from her, and she doesn't ask. (Or then again, he could just be mentally zoned out, and not notice that she needs help; and she could just be the sort of person that doesn't ask for help.)

2. Stoning people.
Honestly, when was the last time you saw anyone stoned as a matter of punishment? The Written Torah dictates that there are times when it should happen, but that is what makes the Oral Torah so essential: it limits those times to such a degree that it's almost never actually permitted to take place! This is one of the dangers of taking the Written Torah (letter of the law) and rejecting the Oral Torah (spirit of the law), in fact.

In fact, in all of its modern history as a nation, Israel has only enacted the death penalty once. Once. And that was for a Nazi war criminal, guilty of committing atrocities personally upon many, many people, as well as encouraging, authorizing, and ordering others to commit even greater atrocities upon many others.

3. Thinking homosexuality is a sin.
There are nearly a hundred verses in Torah which limit the sexual expression of heterosexuals -- verses that restrict it to marriage, verses that tell when a married couple may not approach each other sexually (various holidays, menstruation and the seven days following, several following after childbirth), verses that tell which heterosexuals are not permitted to marry or have relations with one another (various relatives, both by birth and by in-law status), and yes, there are parts of the Oral Torah which even detail certain sexual acts that are not permitted between heterosexuals. Does this make heterosexuality a sin? No, but it does make it limited.

There is one verse in all of Torah which limits sexual expression of homosexuals: "You shall not lie with a man as with a woman." Meaning, you shall not have face-to-face a**l-penetration intercourse between two men. Homosexual relationships have far less limits placed on them than heterosexual relationships; therefore, it would be difficult to think of homosexuality as a sin. That is, unless one's own personal tastes and opinions are already predisposed to think of it as such. It is sheer bigotry, with no basis in Torah.

No sweat, darkphoenix, I wasn't upset with you at all. I am upset that there are so many Jews who have no idea what Judaism actually teaches, requires, forbids, encourages, or discourages.

If Jews themselves are not taking the time to learn about Judaism and teach it to their children and grandchildren, is it any wonder that others don't take the time to learn about Jews and Judaism? If Jews themselves have this many misconceptions about Jews and Judaism, is it any wonder that others have even more misconceptions about us? If Jews themselves are suspicious of Jewish teachings, consider them outdated or even offensive, is it any wonder that others are suspicious and disdainful of us, and prejudiced against us?

This is why I highly encourage all Jews -- whether they're Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or unaffiliated -- to learn about traditional Judaism. If you (not "you" meaning darkphoenix, but "you" meaning "any person") don't know Jewish teachings and traditions, how can you know for sure whether Jewish teachings and traditions have relevance to your life? Find an Orthodox synagogue, learn about the Torah, Talmud, mitzvot... Only then will you be able to make an informed decision about whether these things are meaningful, relevant, and important for you. Now, I'm not saying that you have to learn about them and then live by them. That decision is up to you. You're all intelligent people, so you'll be making an intelligent decision. I just hope that you'll be making an informed intelligent decision.

You obviously never met my mother.

To quote her.
"The reason you were named that, is if you were ever made a Supreme Court Justice, the title would have a nice ring with your name."

Life's full of disappointments, just ask my parents.

If you want Neuf, I'll put in a good word for you with Barack. However, I think the minimum age to be a justice is like, 115. We might have to wait awhile.

Sounds good; thanks for the tip!