Q: I am currently seeking to build myself a solid base of faith and Torah. I participate in many Torah classes, and read much, but I have not yet found an answer to the following question: Can it be that it is simply "comfortable" or "convenient" for us to believe in a G-d that sees and guides all, as this gives meaning to our lives? Perhaps it is simply "comfortable" for us to believe in something that is beyond mere materialism? Maybe it is this nice feeling that causes us to believe in G-d in the first place? We know that many baalei t'shuva [Jews who have adopted a Torah observant lifestyle] say that they were looking for meaning in their lives and that they found it in their new faith.
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[Answered by Rav Elyashiv Kafka, https://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask]
A: You are certainly correct that there are some comfortable aspects to having faith, such as believing that one's life has meaning, and that there is a Supreme Power leading the world, etc. On the other hand, there are some less comfortable aspects as well, such as the demands for certain behavior, the feeling that G-d, and not ourselves, is the center of the universe, and the realization that we do not control our fates.
In general, it sounds from your question as if a test of "truth" for an opinion or faith is whether or not it is "comfortable" - as if to say that if it is comfortable, then we should suspect that it is not objective truth, but rather a subjective invention for purposes of convenience. Though one could argue this, I do not feel that this is the way to test the truth of a matter. There are many outlooks that are comfortable to hold, yet their truth is undeniable. For example, to be ethical and generous has many social benefits, and gives meaning to one's life, yet no one would say that to act this way is not correct! On the other hand, there are some very uncomfortable ideologies - such as Communism, which requires one to give up his property, or jihadism, which requires a sacrifice of life; should we say that their very discomfort grants them legitimacy?
The bottom line is that man's soul is very complex, and will likely find both comfort and discomfort in every philosophy. We can therefore not adopt this standard in order to judge the measure of their truth, for this would lead to contradiction within the same ideologies. We must rather test various philosophies and ideologies according to their substance.
In any event, if we were to seek some meaning to the "comfort" we find in having faith, we could easily say the opposite: Since G-d created the world and man, He imbued within us the aspiration for something more than physical, and the drive to seek meaning beyond the material world. As such, it is this that gives people of faith a good feeling - and not the other way around. (Again, this is not to say that the good feeling proves that our beliefs are correct; I only wish to explain the fact that faith appears to provide our soul with what it needs.)
Follow Up Q: If "convenience" is not a valid was to test the validity of philosophies, then what is a valid way to do so?
A: I do not think that there is a particular "criterion by which to judge philosophies." We try to use our "common sense" for this purpose, but common sense generally does not have definite criteria. A person's decision as to whether something is logical or valid is generally based on a variety of factors, such as his personal inclinations and assumptions and the weight that he gives to each claim. This is why we see intelligent people holding opposing opinions, with each one using his "common sense" to reach different conclusions. This would of course not be the case if there was one definitive criterion by which to judge.
Unfortunately, the plethora of opinions on almost every single topic brings some to the post-modern approach that there is in fact no such thing as objective truth, and that all opinions and ideologies are equally valid. However, this conclusion can be easily rebuffed; for one thing, the question of whether G-d exists is a yes-or-no question, and it definitely has an answer. Therefore, it cannot be that both answers, which are mutually exclusive, are equally valid.
Furthermore, even regarding other less complex factual matters, we see that there are different opinions. For instance, the Holocaust either happened or did not - yet we know that there are different stances on this question. Can we say that there is not objective truth as to whether the Holocaust occurred? Certainly there is! The fact that a perfect proof cannot be found regarding certain questions does not mean that objective truth does not exist for them.
How then can we explain the plethora of opinions and the lack of absoluteness of proof? The conclusion must be that "man's intelligence is naturally limited," and that it can be swayed and tricked with false claims and even "proofs." With this realization, we adopt a stance of humbleness, as well as the knowledge that not every seemingly logical claim is actually that way.
Still, we have no choice but to try to reach conclusions as best we can, based on what we see and sense. "The judge has only what his eyes see."
Regarding our specific question of "belief in G-d," I will present here, very briefly, some thoughts that can lead to the recognition that the G-d of Israel exists and is active in our lives. My intention is not to "prove" G-d's existence - a question about which much has been written throughout the ages and which probably can never be absolutely proven. The idea is simply to show some facts that lead to the conclusion that belief in G-d is far from simply subjective or convenient:
. The complexity and wisdom found in nature, indicating the existence of a Creator and Planner
. The Nation of Israel's exclusive tradition of national revelation, as opposed to revelation only to individuals.
. The uniqueness of the Jewish religion: it is the religion of a small nation that has lasted longer than any other religion [Hinduism has no official founder or beginning - ed.], and whose significant influence on world culture is totally disproportionate to its size.
. The Jewish People's wondrous history, totally unique among nations, for both good and bad. For instance, as far as I know, there is no other nation that was exiled from its homeland [for many centuries - ed.] and then returned to it - and the Jewish People did this twice.
. The fact that the events that befell the Jews were predicted well in advance, in the Torah and the writings of the Prophets. These include the exiles and the return to the Land, among others.
. The Jewish People's blatant presence on the international stage, totally disproportionate to its size. Israel is constantly in the news!
These points can be argued, of course, but a "common sense" view of them appears to lead to the conclusion that belief in G-d is quite grounded in factual reality.
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