Belief and Faith
December 12, 2009
Second in a series of Jewish religious discussions from a lay perspective.
Though the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, belief and faith are not identical. For those who may be uncomfortable with believing, in a religious sense, the distinction is crucial.
Belief refers to holding an idea to be true, without consideration of evidence. Faith is different. Faith has more to do with trust, the willingness to commit to a principle or idea in advance and act as if it were valid without demanding proof. Jewish religious faith, at least here in the Reform movement, involves dedication to the ideals and tenets of Judaism. It circumvents the need to believe in the historic accuracy of Bible characters and events or consider the veracity of other stories in texts of the Jewish canon.
Judaism demands thinking as we interpret and reinterpret what we have been given. Through faith we agree to take the interpretation process seriously enough to find value and meaning, whether in the original writings, the commentaries, or the commentaries on the commentaries.
Reform Judaism gives us the latitude to look freshly and creatively at what has come down to us. It is entirely in keeping with who we are today to have strong faith that enriches our lives and binds us to our People without ever having to come down on one side or the other of belief. Faith also allows us to transcend the language of prayer when the words in the book seem anachronistic and unsatisfying.
Abraham Joshua Heschel, the great philosopher and theologian, said, “Faith always includes striving for faith.” It is an active process of reaching beyond what we know in the service of learning and spiritual depth. We use the term “leap of faith” because we never know for sure where we will land. In making the commitment to faith we open ourselves to discovery. But, of course, we won’t land anywhere—the promise will remain unrealized—if we do not first take some kind of step or leap.
Judaism encourages us to take that chance, to have faith that our efforts will be rewarded. The alternative is to stay put: we have the choice not to ask questions and pursue answers. Without a leap of faith we cannot be proven wrong. But we won’t get very far either.
Faith is the opportunity to engage in study and thought, to penetrate the limits of our knowledge. Temple Emanu-El offers a number of ways to engage Jewish learning and grow in spirituality and wisdom.
The benefits come to those who leap, or at least take the first step.
