Christians why the obsession with faith, in Judaism belief is taken for granted similar to the way air is?

Answer 1

I would disagree

Nothing in Judaism is taken for granted. Every issue, every theological point is argued and debated to ad nausium

Answer 2

Christian obsession with faith is due to the fact that it through that faith, and that faith alone, that they believe salvation sprouts.

However, I differ with your take on Judaism. Belief, or faith, is something that is not taken for granted but something that has to be worked on daily. While it may differ from the Christian concept of faith, emunah (faith), bitachon (trust), and deah (knowledge) are interdependent to the Jew. It is through deah that we build our faith, since our knowledge can not be complete, and as our faith grows so does our bitachon, trust in God...and this greater faith and trust aid us in increasing our knowledge.

Answer 3

I'm not sure you are correct regarding Judaism's standard on belief. There is a command in the Torah to believe in G-d, which is one of the 613 commandments. It is said of Avraham in Genesis, "And he had faith in G-d, and it was counted to him as Righteousness." Gemmorah Rosh Hashanah has a rather frightening several pages (around 15 I believe) about the punishment for people who do not believe. The Rhema's first gloss in the Shulchan Aruch mentions the need to keep G-d in mind always.

Faith is not taken for granted either. In Gemmorah Brakhos, Hezekiah King of Judah tells the Prophet Yesheyahu, "I have a tradition from my fathers that one must continue to pray for help even as the sharp sword reaches the neck." And who can forget the famous quote from Habakkuk the Prophet "The Tzaddik lives through his Faith."

I'll quote to you from the Chasidic sefer, Sichos HaRan, " One should be ashamed of his doubts concerning belief. Such questions are not a sign of inteligence, but a sign that he was concieved through fornication or his mother was unclean through menstration, or he himself has fornicated or been intimate with a menstruant." (P.32)

And from the same book, "The principle goal of the Jewish life is innocent faith. Happy is the one with innocent faith, for he will not move, and they cannot move him! Others can speak scepticism befor him, but his faith is firm. He is like a eunoch who cannot be aroused through lewd words. His ears are deaft to the poison of speculation and confusion." (P.33)

There is also a whole traditional text on the subject, "Gates of Faith." It's about 800 pages long and on this single subject.

Answer 4

Christians believe that faith , which is belief in what is not proven, must be reaffirmed regularly through worship or it becomes "taken for granted".

Answer 5

Israel means 'he who struggles with G-d.' Judaism has never been about blind acceptance or faith. It's about engaging fully in a 4000 year long dialogue about how best to behave ethically.

Judaism has plenty of room for dissent.

Answer 6

The "obsession" with faith is because if we don't have faith, we don't have salvation.

No idea what you meant about Judaism.

Answer 7

Belief is not the same as faith.

Answer 8

Hi, this is Chad at the Crisis Center. We appreciate your call. We here at the center do not endorse blanket statements concerning any beliefs or those that have them. Generalities lead to misunderstandings and are indicative of short-sighted thinking. Thanks for calling and have a nice day.

Answer 9

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Answer 10

my obsession is not with faith, but with Jesus Christ... it is about the relationship, not the religion.. it is about love, not hate... it is about hope, not loss