As a Reform congregation we emphasize pluralism and freedom of choice in terms of theology and observance. The tenets of the Reform Movement espouse and we deeply respect our congregants' rights to form their own personal relationships with God, and we specifically refrain from creating a particular overarching dogma that puts people into a position to defend their personal beliefs. Our general orientation, however, is one of religious naturalism. The history of Reform Judaism includes many who have held this perspective. A theology of religious naturalism thinks of God as either an eternal ideal or as the power within us that enables us to achieve salvation (ultimate fulfillment), or as the creative capacity that permeates all existence or other similar conceptualizations. This is how we understand references to God in liturgy and in reading the Torah at Beth Or. The following example from a reading developed by our rabbi that we use consistently at our religious services is illustrative of our approach:

"Our ancestors took from the Torah six words that became central to Jewish life as an expression of absolute faith:

Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad - "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One".

We hear these words, not as descriptive of physical reality, but as our forebears' way of sounding the call to universal ethical values that can continue to inspire our actions today."

We also use the new siddur published by the Reform Movement - Mishkan Tefilah. Its introduction makes clear that its content is intended for the entire movement including those espousing a religious naturalism or process theology perspective.

Our religious approach emphasizes spiritual growth and personal transformation through the teachings and practices of Judaism.