Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Question About Beliefs and Rabbinic Leaders
Question: To what extent are the rabbinic leaders of the Torah community (however their identity is determined) empowered by the Torah to rule upon what must be regarded as false? It is presumably within their authority to rule that polytheism must be regarded as falsehood. It is presumably not within their authority to rule that monotheism must be regarded as falsehood. Are they empowered to rule that it is forbidden to believe that the Code of Hammurabi preceded the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai? Are they empowered to rule that it is forbidden to believe Julius Caesar lived? Are they empowered to rule that it is forbidden to believe Louis XIV was king of France? Are they empowered to rule that it is forbidden to believe there is such a thing as a molecule? Are they empowered to rule that it is forbidden to believe I have a right foot? Are they empowered to rule that it is forbidden to believe that I exist? Obviously, there is a line somewhere, beyond which they are not empowered to dictate beliefs. I very much doubt that it can be simply defined. What is it? Responses please.
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The have authority to rule what the Torah means, this is broad but it has to be based on the same sources as any other psak כנ"ל. Theoretically if something is heretical but true this would falsify Torah.
The Rambam wrote, "If, on the other hand, Aristotle had a proof for his theory, the whole teaching of Scripture would be rejected, and we would be forced to other opinions" page 200. It may be debatable whether a certain position is heresy or not, but the fact that something is true isn't the determinant. And "אם יעלה על הדעת", one where to imagine, that something the Judaism was heresy were true, that would falsify Judaism. The two positions are mutually exclusive.
I wasn't planing on posting any more comments, but you asked this time. :)
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