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Q&A: How Should the Average Person Choose His Path?

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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

How Should the Average Person Choose His Path?

Question

Hello Rabbi,
First of all, huge thanks to the Rabbi for the books and articles.
The Rabbi is literally saving lives, and giving cold water to a weary soul thirsting for sharp, uncompromising discussion without evasions and complications.
On the subject of clarifying faith:
It is certainly true that a person cannot rely on what he was educated to believe just because that is how he grew up and what he got used to. A person also cannot claim that he believes without evidence, since there are billions of people in the world who believe in their ancestral tradition only because they grew up that way.
This proves that when a person believes in his faith only because that is how he was raised, there is no logic in assuming that he is right when, from his perspective, billions of people who act with the same innocence as he does are considered irrelevant. (Assuming, of course, that there is one truth.)
If so, it is clear that emotion or faith are not the tools for checking what is true.
If so, it is obvious that a person needs to examine with his intellect what seems true to him, because there is no other tool for examination, as explained above.
The question is: what should the average person do, someone like me, whose intellect compels him to investigate seriously, but when he enters the subject he gets tangled from two directions:
A. There are people far more talented than he is, who seem to him honest on all sides of the divide, and who make very powerful arguments. He will always have the doubt that Kant, for example, if he were here in the room, would refute what he thought and concluded.
B. There are very subtle philosophical topics that I read and simply cannot understand, and certainly cannot decide between—for example, the ontological proof. I racked my brain and did not understand a word. Likewise the issue of infinity in the first book on the subject of the eternity of the world, and more.
So how am I supposed to reach a decision with my intellect when people wiser than I am think the opposite, and many of the topics are beyond me?
P.S. There are also issues that are difficult for me in the area of morality and more, and I am sure I would not manage to conduct a written discussion about them. If possible, perhaps we could talk, or even, God forbid, meet for a few minutes. I promise to be focused and to listen with all my strength.
Thank you for everything. There are no words to describe how much the books helped me and my friends.
 
 

Answer

With pleasure.
A. If you worry that some smart person may refute your conclusions, you will never get anywhere, so there is no point in dealing with that concern. There are smart people in every position, and a judge has only what his eyes can see. You need to try to examine the full range of arguments as best you can, and the conclusion you reach is the conclusion you should follow. And if other smart people think otherwise—good for them. The arguments they raise are worth examining, but declarations or conclusions are worth nothing from your standpoint. At most, smart people who think differently are a motivation for you to reexamine yourself. But in the end, a judge has only what his eyes can see. See also Column 247 on this.
B. If you do not understand something, you should ask. You are of course welcome to speak with me by phone or in a meeting (arrange a time with me by phone at 052-33205433).
Much success.

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