Editing Jewish principles of faith (section)

===The Enlightenment===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2015}}
In the late-18th century [[Europe]] was swept by a group of intellectual, social and political movements, together known as [[the Enlightenment]]. These movements promoted scientific thinking and free thought; they allowed people to question previously unshaken religious dogmas. Like Christianity, Judaism developed several responses to this unprecedented phenomenon. One response saw the Enlightenment as positive, while another saw it as negative. The Enlightenment meant equality and freedom for many Jews in many countries, so some felt that it should be warmly welcomed. [[Science|Scientific study]] of religious texts would allow people to study the history of Judaism. Some Jews felt that Judaism should accept modern secular thought and change in response to these ideas. Others, however, believed that the divine nature of Judaism precluded changing any fundamental beliefs.

While the modernist wing of [[Orthodox Judaism]], led by such rabbis as [[Samson Raphael Hirsch]] (1808–1888), was open to the changing times, it rejected any doubt in the traditional theological foundation of Judaism. Historical-critical methods of research and new philosophy led to the formation of various non-Orthodox denominations, as well as of [[Jewish secularism |Jewish secular movements]].