why faith?

Abigail · August 23, 2004

In reading the why Christianity and why not Christianity threads, I got to thinking, why God?

I found this on a Chassidic website and thought it was rather interesting. It is written from the perspective of Jewish teachings, but I think one could eliminate the references to "Jewish people" and apply it to people of any faith.

I'm not going to quote the entire article because it's rather long, but you can find it here

"Remember what Amalek did to you on the road, on your way out of Egypt. That he encountered you on the way and cut off those lagging to your rear, when you were tired and exhausted; he did not fear G-d. Therefore... you must obliterate the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. Do not forget.

Deuteronomy 25:17-19

The Jewish people had just experienced one of the greatest manifestations of divine power in history. Ten supernatural plagues had compelled the mightiest nation on earth to free them from their servitude. The sea had split before them, and manna had rained from the heavens to nourish them. How could they possibly question "Is G-d amongst us or not"?

Yet such is the nature of doubt. There is doubt that is based on rational query. There is doubt that rises from the doubter's subjective motives and desires. But then there is doubt pure and simple: irrational doubt, doubt more powerful than reason. Doubt that neutralizes the most convincing arguments and the most inspiring experiences with nothing more than a cynical shrug.. . . . .

Amalek "knows his Master and consciously rebels against Him." Amalek does not challenge the truth with arguments, or even with selfish motivations -- he just disregards it. To the axiom, "Do truth because it is true," Amalek says "So what?" Armed with nothing but his chutzpah, Amalek jumps into the boiling tub, contests the incontestable. And in doing so he cools its impact.. . . . .

Faith is not something that must be attained; it need only be revealed, for it is woven into the very fabric of the soul's essence. Faith, continues Rabbi Schneur Zalman, transcends reason. Through faith one relates to the infinite truth of G-d in its totality, unlike the perception achieved by reason, which is defined and limited by the finite nature of the human mind. Thus Rabbi Schneur Zalman explains the amazing fact that, throughout Jewish history, many thousands of Jews have sacrificed their lives rather than renounce their faith and their bond with the Almighty, including many who had little conscious knowledge and appreciation of their Jewishness and did not practice it in their daily lives. At their moment of truth, when they perceived that their very identity as Jews was at stake, their intrinsic faith -- a faith that knows no bounds or equivocations -- came to light, and overpowered all else.

The Jew's response to Amalek is to remember. To call forth his soul's reserves of supra-rational faith, a faith which may lie buried and forgotten under a mass of mundane involvements and entanglements. A faith which, when remembered, can meet his every moral challenge, rational or not."

def59 · August 24, 2004

Many Jews have recanted their faith and left in droves. Read the Hebrew Bible (OT for Christians) the sin of idolatry was wiped out only after the last exile to Babylon.

Abigail · August 24, 2004

The sin of idolatry has never been completey wiped out. I'd dare say all of us are idolatrous at some point or another in our lives.

Yes many Jews have recanted their faith, so have many Christians, Muslims, Buhdists, Pagans, etc.

What I got out of the article is that we all have moments of doubt - sometimes years and years of doubt. But many of us, when placed in a tight spot, will find a faith inside of us which we weren't even aware existed.

Very rarely do I read such articles from a completely literal perspective. If I did, I would reject most of what I read out of hand and walk away feeling like I wasted my time. In fact, I may just give up reading and researching all together. I try to see beyond the literal and find a positive lesson from it which I can apply in my life. In this case, the lesson being we all doubt at times and should not be ashamed of that doubt when our faith returns. And also that our faith often does return.

sky4it · August 24, 2004

Abigail:

Your comment:

The sin of idolatry has never been completey wiped out. I'd dare say all of us are idolatrous at some point or another in our lives.

Me agree. Its covetousness. It's very sneaky too, disguises itself with self rationalization.