# Jewish Belief and Conversion- Questions on SDSTAFF CKDextHavn's article

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-belief-and-conversion-questions-on-sdstaff-ckdexthavns-article/353121>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [April 18, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-belief-and-conversion-questions-on-sdstaff-ckdexthavns-article/353121 "2006-04-18T03:49:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-belief-and-conversion-questions-on-sdstaff-ckdexthavns-article/353121/41 "2006-04-22T14:12:01Z")

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> [@Lynwood Slim](#):
>
> The origin of “belief” is found in its German root “beliebt” beloved.

Arrggghhhh!

First of all, the English word “belief” most certainly does not have its origin in any Modern High German word. It is true that, if you go back to prehistoric times, “love” and “belief” have a common root in PIE “\*leubh-”, but by the time you get to attested Old English, “ge-leafa” already has the modern meaning.

Secondly, what has any of this to do with Latin “credo” or Greek “pisteuo”, languages far more important in the development of Christian thought than English?

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