The heresy tag has no wiki summary.
19
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6answers
465 views
Looking for more information about a story of positive atheism/heresy
In a 2006 article (original link no longer available), Rabbi Jonathan Sacks tells the following story:
“DO YOU believe,” the disciple asked the rabbi, “that God created everything for a purpose?”
...
14
votes
1answer
199 views
Can you learn from seforim written by someone who believed in Shabbetai Tzvi?
During the times of false messiah Shabbetai Tzvi, and for several decades afterwards, many well established rabbanim [1] believed him to be Moshiach. Some even maintained this belief after his ...
13
votes
3answers
256 views
Can an apikores (heretic) count in a minyan?
Suppose there is a person who openly denies the divinity of the Torah, breaks the Sabbath and declares himself an atheist, but goes to synagogue for the sense of community or for cultural reasons. Can ...
11
votes
4answers
392 views
Would a Karaite be required to undergo conversion?
If a Karaite who knows that his mother is Jewish (Karaite) wanted to join the Orthodox Jewish Community - would he be required to undergo a conversion?
11
votes
2answers
222 views
Is it heresy to follow secular dating on the destruction of the first Temple?
There is a discrepancy between rabbinic and secular sources regarding when the first Temple was destroyed -- a difference of some 165 years or so, which are called the "Missing Years."
My question is ...
11
votes
2answers
286 views
Heretics in the bathroom
From my understanding a torah scroll written by a heretic has no sanctity and should be burned (Gittin 45b). May one read torah related material, written by a heretic but that contains nothing ...
10
votes
1answer
280 views
Can Purim Torah be heretical?
How far can one go with Purim Torah? Can one descend into heresy, so long as it is known that one is not serious?
9
votes
2answers
282 views
Is it permitted for a Ben-Noach be an atheist?
Avoda zarah is one of the things prohibited by the Seven Noachide Laws. But what about atheism? I know that the 7 Laws are often taken to include a larger number of halachot from the Torah, so would ...
9
votes
1answer
178 views
When does one become considered shomer shaboss?
Clarification : Mr. X is a orthodox religious Jew. Mr. X has a rebellious phase and violates shaboss. Mr. X later starts keeping the rules again. I'm asking in both cases:
Case 1: Ten people knew ...
6
votes
4answers
344 views
Is one a heretic if he does not believe in Kabbalah?
Is one a heretic if he does not believe in Kabbalah? Not necessarily that the Rashbi authored the Zohar, but in the general tenets of kabbalah including but not limited to: tzimtzum, sefirot, ...
6
votes
1answer
122 views
Da' Mah LeHashiv vs. teaching Torah to non-Jews
Is the paradigm of Da' Mah LeHashiv limited to heretical Jews, and that of the restriction on teaching Torah to non-Jews limited only to non-Jews (excluding heretical Jews), such that there is never ...
4
votes
1answer
113 views
Are the ignorant/uneducated exempt from halacha?
Are the ignorant/uneducated (Jews) exempt from following halacha? Do they have a share in the world to come even if they break Jewish law or are apikores?
I am led to believe that the answer is, more ...
4
votes
2answers
139 views
Divrei torah written by a heretic
What is the status of divrei Torah written by someone who does not believe in the oral Torah? Does it retain any sanctity? Should it be burt or buried?
4
votes
1answer
129 views
If someone doesn't believe in the Gemara, is he a heretic?
If someone says "I believe that the Mishnayos/Braisos/Toseftas are accurate, but I think that the Gemara made mistakes and has no holiness.
Is such philosophy heresy?
What about someone who argues ...
4
votes
1answer
119 views
Rational approaches to superstitious ideas
Can one assume that there is a perfectly rational approach to superstitious ideas? May one go out of one's way to come up with rational approaches if these ideas bother him? My thinking is, ...
3
votes
1answer
153 views
Me'or Einayim-The Maharal
What was the reason that the Me'or Einayim by Azariah deRossi's was considered problematic and what is its Historical development and signifigance of this book Basicly what was all the fuss about?
1
vote
1answer
80 views
May one learn from a heretic?
The Rambam writes in his introduction to Shemona Perakim: "kabel ha-emet mimi she-amerah - accept the truth from whoever speaks it".
Furthermore, the gemarah Chagigah 15b indicates that Rebbi Meir ...
1
vote
1answer
167 views
Would it be permissible to believe that Jesus is the messiah if that belief otherwise entails no rejection of halakha or Jewish tradition?
"Messianic Judaism" is generally speaking Christianity repackaged in a Jewish veneer, so they have the same beliefs on the Torah and the divinity of Jesus/Trinity as mainstream Christianity. But ...
0
votes
2answers
114 views
What if someone is unable to believe in God?
Suppose someone really truly wants to believe in Hashem, but is simply unable to. Even after much trying and learning Torah, he still is simply unable to believe in God. Would that person be ...
