On Reform (without an "ed") Judaism

The very first lecture of F359 was enough to make me get a taste of just how much I DO NOT understand and how much I have to learn about Judaism. Coming from a Catholic background has given me many (positive) perceptions of the Jewish faith (as I see or should I say saw it). I saw it as a faith because the guy I do my best to follow in my physical and spiritual life was himself a religious Jew. I have since been exposed to different world-views of the Jewish people and seen that to be a Jew can possibly mean to be affiliated with a major faith, way of life, values system, or ethnicity even. The first main topic discussed in class was the idea that there are three main movements that Jews choose to identify themselves with. The Reform movement, the Conservative movement, and the Orthodox. The first fact that I was amazed to discover was that of all the movements, Reform is the oldest and closest to its roots. I always assumed that Orthodox was the eldest of the three, but it was in this class that I learned that it was Reform Judaism coming into existence that helped the Orthodox movement define what it is in the first place. There were several other elements concerning Reform Judaism that struck me as well. The first minute of discussion on the topic taught me to notice that there should be no "ED" on the end of the word "Reform". It's amazing to me just how many perceptions two little letters being stuck on the end of a word can instill or raise. Because I thought the word was "reformed", I assumed that reform Judaism was exceptionally liberal. I was also under the WRONG assumption because I thought it was a "reformed" faith or philosophy, it may take on characteristics that would thus make the Jewish lifestyle "easier" to live by. I apologize for my ignorance in the matter. I am very excited to learn more about what it means for people when they identify themselves as a Jew, as well as lifting the clouds of ignorance as it were from a faith that I have the utmost honor and respect for.