Faith, Doubt & Questions

"I have faith!" or "I believe!"

Those two phrases, often used interchangeably, though they shouldn't be, are also used to end all discussion. And yet, they should be the starting point for the deepest discussions - if by discussion we mean a reasoned analysis or an argument in the classic sense of testing a thesis.

Let's use a simple example: A person gets sick, G-d Forbid, and goes to the doctor. The doctor examines the patient, diagnoses the condition, and prescribes medication. Do we have faith in the doctor? Of course. Otherwise, why submit to an exam and rely on the doctor's judgment? Do we believe the medicine will work? Of course. Why else would we take it. Do we have doubts? Of course. Until the medicine works. Then we have "complete faith" or "pure belief." This is so even if in fact the medicine did not cure the disease, but some other factor did.

But we've left out the questions! The questions begin the moment the status quo changes. We find out we're sick, and the questions start - Why me? What is it? What do I do? What does it mean? How does it work? They're endless. When we're with the doctor, more questions. When we take the medicine, more questions. When the medicine works, G-d Willing, more questions.

Now what? When we're cured, do the questions go away? No, they just become deeper. We believe in the doctor, we have faith in the medicine (or vice versa), but we have more questions, of a more profound nature.

There's what we believe before we know and what we believe after we know. Pre-knowledge belief is really a kind of semi-educated hope.  What we know, we don't need to believe. But knowledge is intellectual. The belief - or faith - that comes from experience transcends knowledge. That belief is truly rooted in the heart.