Doubt

Even if someone gave me some reasonable arguments in favor of TMS and Orthodox Judaism it probably wouldn't help.

When I was a kid the truth of Judaism was as obvious to me as the existence of the president of the United States. I have lost that childhood naivety. Even if the scales were somehow tipped in favor of Judaism I am now stuck, forever, with that lingering doubt. All those years I looked for answers I was missing the point. It was (and still is) impossible for me to return to that state of naivete which was what I really desired.

The very fact that there are so many religions PROVES that religion just cannot be as obvious as the existence of say New York city. Even the things that conspiracy theorists deny (holocaust, moon landing) are only disputed by a relatively small amount of people with little credibility, while the vast majority of people in the world have ONE unanimous (and totally "doubtless") belief about the subject.

I don't think there is one Jewish apologist out there who will say "I'm 100% sure of the truth of Judaism" at best the apologist will say it is certain beyond a reasonable doubt.

Can one truly be a really devout Jew without absolute faith? Don't you really need 100% NO DOUBT WHAT SO EVER  to be a really good Jew.

Every time a Jew is faced with a test can he consistently stop himself from giving in to his desires when he has that little voice (the little kefira yetzer hara) whispering in his ear "Don't forget, you're not totally positive that Judaism is true. And you KNOW for sure that this <insert illicit activity> will make you happy now but you don't know FOR SURE that Judaism is true." (Wait for a certain blogger to say "AHA! You sex crazed maniac! THAT is why you are skeptical because you want to do <insert illicit activity>")

Perhaps a mere tipping of the scales towards being "pretty sure" of Judaism will convince you to be frum. Hell, it doesn't take too much motivation to do the motions of "being frum" But if your motivation is "that it's beyond a reasonable doubt" could you be more than that? Will you actually be able to truly dedicate your life to Judaism? Would you really be able to give up your life for Judaism.

Are the only tzadikim (righteous) in Judaism those who just happen to be so completely brainwashed that they actually equate belief in a religion with belief in an undisputed fact? Could someone who thinks that there is say a 10% chance that Judaism is NOT true motivate himself to be a righteous Jew?

Even if you believe in Judaism, belief in Judaism (or any religion) is just not equal to belief in a fact. Period. Yet those we venerate (tzadikim, martyrs) treated it that way. Is the "frum ideal" a goal that only somewhat delusional people can obtain?

Can a frum person motivated by "beyond a reasonable doubt" really make a big sacrifice for his religion when he has that nagging that "you don't know it's for SURE true."