Editing Jewish principles of faith (section)

===Conservative Judaism===
{{Main|Conservative Judaism#Theology}}
Conservative Judaism developed in Europe and the United States in the late 1800s, as Jews reacted to the changes brought about by the [[Haskalah|Jewish Enlightenment]] and [[Jewish emancipation]]. In many ways, it was a reaction to what were seen as the excesses of the [[Reform Judaism|Reform movement]]. For much of the movement's history, Conservative Judaism deliberately avoided publishing systematic explications of theology and belief; this was a conscious attempt to hold together a wide coalition. This concern became a non-issue after the left-wing of the movement seceded in 1968 to form the Reconstructionist movement, and after the right-wing seceded in 1985 to form the [[Union for Traditional Judaism]].

In 1988, the [[Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism]] finally issued an official statement of belief, "Emet Ve-Emunah: Statement of Principles of Conservative Judaism". It noted that a Jew must hold certain beliefs. However, the Conservative rabbinate also notes that the Jewish community never developed any one binding [[catechism]]. Thus, Emet Ve-Emunah affirms belief in God and in God's revelation of Torah to the Jews. However, it also affirms the legitimacy of multiple interpretations of these issues. [[Atheism]], [[Trinity|Trinitarian]] views of God, and [[polytheism]] are all ruled out. All forms of [[relativism]], and also of [[biblical literalism|literalism]] and [[fundamentalism]], are also rejected. It teaches that [[halakha|Jewish law]] is both still valid and indispensable, but also holds to a more open and flexible view of how law has, and should, develop than the Orthodox view.