First, from here:
All the major faith traditions have seen a growth in “fundamentalism” over the past few years and this phenomenon has received wide attention. Fundamentalism is hard to define. Sol Schimmel says It is characterised by “fear of truth” in his recent book The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs.
As Schimmel argues, all Orthodox Jews are “fundamentalist” in their belief in the divine revelation of the Torah to which they cling “unreasonably” in the face of evidence from modern Biblical scholarship. “Torah from Heaven” is a belief which is taught in all orthodox schools and has generated splits within the Jewish community as non-orthodox groups accept the findings of such scholarship whilst maintaining traditional observances to a greater or lesser degree.
The most widely accepted formulation of what orthodox Jews must believe is the 13 principles of faith developed by Maimonides in the 12th century, which includes the belief in the Divine origin of the Torah. Modern scholarship, including books by orthodox scholars such as Menachem Kellner’s Must a Jew Believe Anything?, has closely analysed these principles and indicated that it is far from clear that Maimonides himself believed in these dogmas as formulated. Modern Orthodox Jews (“traditionalists”) can therefore make the case for combining modern scholarship with Orthodox practice and belief applying the Maimonidean principle of accepting the truth wherever it comes from. (Read the rest at the link above)
And then the response, here:
Being called a fundamentalist in the sense that I strictly adhere to a set of beliefs does not bother me. However, the juxtaposition of the word “fundamentalist” with “unreasonable” turns the term into an insult. Let us be clear: there are many things that others may find unbelievable and unreasonable but, after thorough review, are found to be true. (Read the rest at the link above)
September 30th, 2009 2:34 pm
In the 13 Principles, one can certainly see the these Creed like, “I believe” to be very acceptable in the Judeo-Christian sense also. Certain would be very acceptable to historic Christianity. Personally, I feel closer to conservative Jews more often than to many English speaking Christians (so-called). But then I confess too after living in Israel, that I am pro-Israel. Not to the excess of some blank check there, but as the people of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God Bless the modern Nation of Israel! And this certainly does not make me a Zionist, but a simple Judeo-Christian!
Fr. R.