Faith and Understanding

[Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim]

I feel my previous words already address your new post. I don't see a new question.

[Beth]

Originally Posted by Luigi

But I would clarify that God need not reveal Himself – as in Revelation at Sinai – for men like Abraham to discover the truth of God.

Yes, not as in Revelation at Sinai, but Abraham like all men required God's revelation in order to know Him nonetheless since creation itself reveals the Creator, no? That would make God the primary Actor in the relationship; i.e. the Lord reveals and in so doing beckons man - every man - to come to know Him through reason. Agreed?

May I offer my understanding? If I understand correctly, the Rabbi is saying that each man has a different level of reasoning ability.

ABRAHAM
Through his keen reasoning, Abraham discovered the truth of God based solely upon his observations of creation. God was not an Actor beyond having created the creation (that Abraham then actively observed and analyzed). Initially, God played a passive role in His relationship with Abraham.

THE MASSES AT SINAI
Abraham's power of reasoning is not unique, but it is uncommon. The masses (with lesser reasoning skills) are unequipped to make the same discovery without the benefit of God directly communicating with them via prophecy.

DESCENDANTS OF THE MASSES AT SINAI
Sinai was a one-time event. However, the nature of the Sinai event was such that every future generation of descendants has the benefit of persuasive evidence that God did directly communicate with their ancestors via prophecy.

[Beth]

Originally Posted by Luigi

would you also say that all men can know of God's existence simply through observation of the created reality and application of the gift of reason?

No. Many men are unequipped to discover God's existence based solely upon their own observation of creation -- incapable even of a "basic knowledge."

[Beth]

Originally Posted by Luigi

The thing that caught my attention in the Proof initially was that it seemed to imply that man is limited in his relationship with God solely by his own intellect, with little room for faith

Man is limited by his own intellect. However, once a man has intellectually grasped the truth of God (via one's own keen intellect or via direct communication or via persuasive evidence of direct communication to others), then he has a basis to have subsequent faith in God's promises. Thus, there is plenty of room for faith.

Originally Posted by Luigi

It also seemed to say that faith is inferior to intellect as it applies to man's relationship with God

Intellectual knowledge (of the truth of God) is the basis for subsequent faith (in God's promises). Intellectual knowledge is the prerequisite for that faith. Intellectual knowledge necessarily precedes that faith. However, this is not to say intellect is superior to that faith.

[Beth]

Originally Posted by Luigi

Augustine put it this way concerning the interpaly between faith and understanding:

"I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe."

If Augustine means that faith in God's promises can precede intellectual knowledge of the truth of God, then this is the religionist's perspective -- not the perspective of the Man of Torah.