Many attempts of this character have been made by modern rabbis and teachers, most of them founded upon Albo's three articles. Those who penetrated somewhat more deeply into the essence of Judaism added a fourth article, the belief in Israel's priestly mission, and at the same time, instead of the belief in retribution, included the doctrine of man's kinship with God, or, if one may coin the word, his _God-childship_.(53) Few, however, have succeeded in working out the entire content of the Jewish faith from a modern viewpoint, which must include historical, critical, and psychological research, as well as the study of comparative religion.
12. The following tripartite plan is that of the present attempt to present the doctrines of Judaism systematically along the lines of historical development:
_a._ Man's consciousness of God, and divine revelation.
_b._ God's spirituality, His unity, His holiness, His perfection.
_c._ His relation to the world: Creation and Providence.
_d._ His relation to man: His justice, His love and mercy.
_a._ Man's God-childship; his moral freedom and yearning for God.
_b._ Sin and repentance; prayer and worship; immortality, reward and punishment.
_c._ Man and humanity: the moral factors in history.
_a._ The priest-mission of Israel, its destiny as teacher and martyr among the nations, and its Messianic hope.
_b._ The Kingdom of God: the nations and religions of the world in a divine plan of universal salvation.
_d._ The ethics of Judaism and the Kingdom of God.
Chapter V. Man's Consciousness of God and Belief in God
1. Holy Writ employs two terms for religion, both of which lay stress upon its moral and spiritual nature: _Yirath Elohim_--"fear of God"--and _Daath Elohim_--"knowledge or consciousness of God." Whatever the fear of God may have meant in the lower stages of primitive religion, in the Biblical and Rabbinical conceptions it exercises a wholesome moral effect; it stirs up the conscience and keeps man from wrongdoing. Where fear of God is lacking, violence and vice are rife;(54) it keeps society in order and prompts the individual to walk in the path of duty. Hence it is called "the beginning of wisdom."(55) The divine revelation of Sinai accentuates as its main purpose "to put the fear of God into the hearts of the people, lest they sin."(56)