Some years ago I read a book, written by an Israeli, about the relationships between Jews, Muslims and Christians in the Holy Land. It contained a fascinating remark made by a nun, Sister Maria Teresa: “I watch the [Jewish] families who visit here on weekends; how the parents behave toward their children, speaking to them with patience and encouraging them to ask intelligent questions. It’s an example for the whole world. The strength of this people is the love of parents for their children.” I see a very similar devotion to children among the Sikhs I’ve been privileged to know.
Sister Maria’s remark touches on another feature of Judaism: the idea that Jewish parents must teach their children to ask questions. We do not believe that faith is blind or unquestioning. Nor do we believe that education is a process in which adults speak and children listen, adults command and children obey. That is the sign of an authoritarian culture, not a free society.
In the Hebrew Bible, people ask questions of God, and the greater the person, the deeper the question.
The Judeo-Christian tradition is almost unique among all world religions — mono- and poly-theistic — in that the people of God can not only question God but actively disagree and argue with Him without fear of harsh retribution or death.
Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Job, Isaiah, etc. all questioned God at one point or another, and often got what they asked for (Abraham re: Sodom and the ten righteous; Moses being able to take Aaron with him as spokesperson).
Peace
Jim Elliott <><
However, the only answer Job got was basically “I am God, you are not”.
Just being a bible page turner and not a theologian, it seems to me that our Judeo/Christian God wants a relationship with His people and that necessarily means questions -and answers.