Anon asked Staff ago I read your words and they are very interesting, but I don’t understand how you can reject the Torah. I say this logically and intellectually, for it is not possible that an entire nation accepts the story of Divine revelation when this never actually happened. Someone would come and say that the king is naked!! How is it possible that an entire community, for so long, accepts nonsense and claptrap (as you would have it) and give up their lives for it?
Gideon
jsadmin Staff answered 21 years ago
Dear Gideon,
We chose, this time, to bring an answer from one of the great rabbis of the United States, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein OBM. He said:
“Anything a person does which strengthens his faith — even if it is not rational — is not mad. Even intelligent people begin to believe based on silly things, generally incited. Sometimes the estranged and erroneous believe because of things they imagine, awake or asleep. After they have begun to believe they are willing to give their lives for their nonsensical beliefs” (Responsa Igrot Moshe on Orach Chayim part 1, section 235).
For more, see our answer to Belief in a Divine Revelation.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet