Q&A: Several Questions — Jewish Law and Ethics Class
Several Questions — Jewish Law and Ethics Class
Question
Hi Rabbi,
Following our lesson today, I wanted to ask several questions regarding the observance of commandments.
1. Just as there are arguments that support the Jewish tradition and its truth, there are also arguments that undermine it and cast doubt on it; both stem from logic, from a rational, intellectual place (for the most part). Does the decision whether to observe commandments, or the decision not to observe them, therefore rest on a matter of outlook and faith?
2. Likewise, if the matter is indeed purely one of faith, is faith something emotional or intellectual?
3. If faith is something emotional, does that fit together with the mind as the deciding factor?
Thanks in advance
Answer
You need to define what you mean by a matter of outlook and faith. In my view, there is no such creature. There is logic and intellect, and that is all. If you have reached the conclusion that there is God, then you believe; and if not, then not. Faith is not an inferential tool, but the result of a logical and intellectual inference. In the first semester we dealt a lot with these points. In my view, faith is our ability to grasp truths directly; that is, intuition is the faculty of faith. Intuition underlies our basic assumptions, and a logical argument always rests on basic assumptions, which themselves are based on intuition (= faith). Therefore logic does not contradict faith, nor is it a substitute for it. In my view, faith is an intellectual faculty, without any necessary connection to the Holy One, blessed be He. Science too is based on faith (= intuitive basic assumptions). I have written several articles and books about this.
All the best,