Fair enough dbw... Nonsense, there is no fighting going on here, it's all good, and I have been to Isreal, it is very nice. I recommend you visit should you ever get the chance.
To answer some of your questions... To begin with, lets just say I am definately over 40 years old, so I have been around the block once or twice. I, like you, do not consider myself to be 'religious', although I am an ordained minister. That being said, I am very spiritual and consider my spirituality my only passion greater than music. I have in fact read many sacred texts over the years including your aforementioned Talmud and Torah, as well as Sepher Yetzirah, The Dhammapada, The Bhagavad Gita, The Key of Solomon the King,The Upanishads, The Book of Thoth, The Book of Tokens (as well as all other Paul Foster Case materials), The Kybalion, and countless other books involving enlightenment and/or ascension. I have studied Enochian, FOL (and have in fact spent time with Drunvalo Melchizedek at Bastyr University), ToL, Sacred Geometry, Tai Chi Chi Kung, OTO, AA, B.O.T.A., the works of Tashira Tachi-ren, Isreal Regardie, Eliphas Levi, Gurdjieff, Dion Fortune, Franz Bardon, Denning and Phillips, Gregg Braden, and many others. I have studied to a high level, the arts of Tarot, Scrying, and Meditations (including the full Merkaba Meditation to a very accomplished level). I currently own more than 600 various manuscripts and documents, some dating back over 400 years, and am in possession of a first printing of all 10 volumes of the Equinox. In fact, I pride myself in the library I have assembled.
I do not feel you have to be an Orthodox Jew (or any particular race or creed for that matter - while I was stationed in Hawaii in the 80's, I was even welcomed with open arms into the world of the Kahuna - as well as time spent with Native Americans - being partly Blackfoot myself) to enjoy the wisdom and insight found within the Kabbalah and Gematria or any of the volumes of material that can be had, but I too, do not enjoy people who wish to sensationalize themselves within the embodiment of philosophy. It takes many years and lifetimes to even grasp a few gems that have been provided us and this is only if you approach it with an open mind and open heart. Throughout my years I have sought out many of these gems and while my current spiritual beliefs revolve mostly around Taoism, I still find things such as the Huna Arts and Tarot of great enjoyment to me.
All that being said, it's all good man...
And on top of it, I brew a mean batch of homebrew occasionaly... Cheers...
ccasion14: