Faith is the basic requirement for entering the way of the Buddha

Thus faith is the basic requirement for entering the way of the Buddha. In the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice, the first ten stages, dealing with faith are basic, and the first of these ten stages is that of arousing pure faith. Though lacking in knowledge of Buddhism, a person of faith, even if dull-witted, is to be reckoned as a person of correct views. But even though one has some knowledge of Buddhism, if one is without faith, then one is to be considered a slanderer and an icchantika, or person of incorrigible disbelief. 12/2

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written on January 6, 1266