Explaining the role of blind faith

While Judaism insists on free and open inquiry, “blind” faith plays a

role in its theology. We need a healthy dose of humility in

confronting the universe and the great questions that we pose. Our

perspective is limited because we are finite beings who cannot begin

to apprehend the infinite, we are mortal creatures who cannot begin

to understand the eternal. G-d does not owe us answers, for he wants

us to “believe” rather than “know.” It was the Tree of Knowledge that

was forbidden to humankind in the Garden of Eden, but faith is one of

G-d’s greatest gifts. The concept of mystery must occupy a prominent

place in our way of relating to G-d and his works, for we are not

privy to the workings of creation or how we fit into the course of

eternity. A tapestry is beautiful to behold as the threads intertwine

to form a cohesive design.

We only see the back of the tapestry of existence, the

disconnected threads of varying lengths that do not form an

intelligible picture. Our faith must be that there is a front to the

tapestry, that G-d fashioned it and that G-d looks upon it always.

RABBI MARK MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm,

Newport Beach

The blind faith is referred to in the Islamic religion as the

unseen. The Holy Quran describes the pious people as those who

believe in the unseen (Quran 2:2-3). Our universe has been divided

into two: First, the physical, tangible, and the one that we can see.

The second is the unseen, or metaphysical world. We believe in

predestination (but not compulsion) and free will at the same time.

God commands and engineers the first, and the human being engineers

and designs the second. Although we believe that human beings are

masters of their own acts, and therefore bear immoral

responsibilities and consequences of their actions, we also believe

that the beginning of certain things such as guidance and prosperity

are always from God, and this is considered a part of the unseen

world. The Holy Quran asserts this notion in 4:79.

IMAM MOUSTAFA AL-QAZWINI

Islamic Educational Center

of Orange County

Open the eyes of our faith ... “Episcopalians/Anglicans pray

regularly in these words from our Book of Common Prayer. The mystery

and process of faith always centers on the only one who is ultimately

trustworthy and true, God. Faith is not knowing where you are going

while being sure who is the origin and destination of your journey.

Desmond Tutu says, “Nothing and no one is ever beyond hope,” because

there is always hope. Christian faith is never blind.

Faith is “the assurance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1a). In

the Genesis (18:9-15, 21:1-6) story of faithful Abraham and faithful

Sarah, faith is anything but blind, as faith leads over-and-over to

laughter. When God promises the very old matriarch and patriarch that

they will finally have a child, it is with eyes wide open that they

laugh. God then tells them that the baby’s name will be “Isaac;”

“Isaac” means “laughter.” So faith is “laughter at the promise of a

child called laughter” (Frederick Buechner, “Son of Laughter”). Like

laughter, faith is not blind, but always centered on our trustworthy

and true God.

THE VERY REV. CANON

PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church,

Corona del Mar