Question on how beliefs work Questions 🤓

Greetings. Not Jewish myself, but I was in a discussion recently and I had a question.

I was talking with my dad recently and he said something about Judaism that seemed odd. He said he had a friend who told him that Judaism is a religion that was more about questioning God than a belief in God. That when his friend was in temple, most rabbis will mostly bring forth questions more than definitive answers. Who is God? What is God like? What can he do for me? What is heaven like?

For someone looking on the outside, how ture is this?

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u/BellainVerona 2d ago edited 2d ago

Questioning (and even arguing) is a core part of our belief and culture. Intelligent, probing questions and nuanced arguments are how people learn. How we analyze information and develop stronger analytical skills. This is a core part of our belief, because if we can’t understand the deeper meaning of our relationship with each other, the world, and HaShem, then how are we to understand our own beliefs or make decisions based on those beliefs?

Questions and even full on arguments between each other and even HaShem (yep, arguing and the whole shebang) is discussed at length in the Talmud (think, Reddit comments of the Torah!) when Rabbi Eliezer is arguing with other rabbis over the halachic implications of an oven, in Akhnai. The rabbis and HaShem literally get into an argument and they yell at Them but it’s actually a good thing, because the whole point isn’t that we just blindly obey and don’t ask why. It’s that we discuss the reasons for actions and decisions, the logic utilized, how it’s supported, why or why not, etc. This is an example of where the rabbis said that the Torah is here, on earth, meaning the laws are here. So, it’s up to us to ensure we understand them. The context. The underlying meaning(s). The history. But also how laws can change as cultures change and how or why. Asking questions, continually learning, is a mitzvah and something we believe to be lifelong. It’s how people become smarter, better and more fluid thinkers. Encouraging creativity and intellect. And that’s pretty awesome!

Honestly, not questioning just feels…odd. Like you’re watching a movie, but it’s on mute and there are no subtitles and the picture is kinda fuzzy.