Q&A: Inquiry at a Young Age
Inquiry at a Young Age
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I am a young yeshiva student, 15 years old. The truth is that I asked rabbis whether one should investigate, and not only was the answer negative, but it also led to unpleasant consequences. From my perspective, this situation has always been sad and embarrassing. And the truth is that in recent years, when I did a bit of investigating, I was considered a “criminal” in some sense. When I spoke with my friends about matters of faith, I brought proofs from The Guide for the Perplexed and elsewhere. Some of them started shouting at me that what I was doing was wrong [that when you read books about faith], and that it goes against the rabbis. [The truth is that this isn’t correct; many of the great rationalist Torah scholars encouraged inquiry and knowledge of God, and in fact this is an old dispute.] In any case, I wanted to hear the Rabbi’s opinion [because in my view the Rabbi is a complete rationalist and someone with straight common sense].
Should one forget reason and believe without knowledge?!
Is there any prohibition on studying books of faith such as The Guide for the Perplexed and the like?!
Some of them answered me that it’s not for this age. But in my view that is really not true; people need answers to questions at every age! It seems to me that the Rabbi will agree with me, and it’s very important to me to hear someone who agrees with me—it will strengthen me mentally and religiously! [Religiously: all those who avoid inquiry so strongly cause the people around them to think: why, why are they so afraid of it if this is the truth??? So let’s get to the answer: they’re hiding something—a helpless religion with no basis at all. But when people go onto sites like the Rabbi’s, they are immediately strengthened religiously, with no connection to any of that. I want the Rabbi to tell me and everyone else that the Rabbi’s site is also meant for young people, and so are the Rabbi’s books.]
I would be happy to hear the Rabbi’s opinion.
Thank you.
Answer
I don’t understand. You don’t know my views on this subject? Do you read the site? And my books? Obviously these are absurd claims. Not only is this not the only opinion out there, but this opinion is absurd on its face. How can one demand that a person accept a system that he is not allowed to examine? Just because he was born that way? Someone born into a tribe of idol worshipers could also be told that he is forbidden to investigate. This is truly nonsense unworthy of any consideration. I dealt with this in the second book of the trilogy.
Obviously this guidance is intended for anyone who wants to read any essay, site, or book. Have no fear. There is not the slightest problem with it.
Discussion on Answer
Someone who is troubled by questions and is looking for answers should examine things as much as he can and in whatever way seems right to him. If a young teenager is not troubled, then it is certainly possible to postpone exposing him to difficult arguments and such materials. It all depends on who he is.
Does the Rabbi have a recipe for the right way to be exposed to this content? After all, there are things here that are definitely deep, and you need to go through some sort of “preparatory stage” for them—especially when you get to philosophical content by definition.
No. Like any theoretical field, it takes time until you become proficient in it. The fear of the philosophical realm is unnecessary and unjustified.
Does the Rabbi not think that these things are unsuitable for every age?
Not because there is some “prohibition” against reading them, but because it is “unhealthy” to read them at too young an age?