Q&A: The Obligation to Believe in the Thirteen Principles
The Obligation to Believe in the Thirteen Principles
Question
Hello.
In the book Pure Faith, the following argument appears:
Judaism (and really any religion) needs certain fundamental principles of faith that are binding. Because it is impossible, for example, that a person who observes the commandments but denies God has fulfilled his obligation.
So it is clear that someone had to formulate them, and the Jewish people had to accept them, just as with rulings on matters of Jewish law.
If so, it is clear that the Holy One, blessed be He, made sure that those who formulated the principles and those who accepted them (for present purposes, Maimonides) would not err (as opposed to other matters of thought, where there is nothing preventing error), because otherwise an obligation would be created to believe something untrue, and surely the Holy One, blessed be He, would not want that.
This is, of course, assuming that the Holy One, blessed be He, can ensure some things (at least certain things) in this world—an assumption that also fits with the nature of prophecy, the protection of the Jewish people (in principle), and the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel.
I would be happy to hear your opinion.
Answer
The fact that belief in God is required does not mean that there are fundamental principles.
Nor does it necessarily mean that someone has to formulate them.
Nor is there any necessity that there be an obligation to obey this or that formulator.
And there is no such thing as an obligation to obey intellectual principles.
The Holy One, blessed be He, also allows us to sin even though He does not want that. And He also allows us to disagree with one another in Jewish law, which can lead to transgressions.
In short, empty pilpul.
Discussion on Answer
It seems that Maimonides was mistaken. In his formulation of the principles, Maimonides presents a completely Aristotelian worldview—a worldview that collapsed hundreds of years ago.
Most religious people, including rabbis, do not really understand those principles and their content. At most they know only the heading or the quote. And they certainly do not believe in them.
In general, there are also other sets of principles proposed by other medieval authorities (Rishonim). There too, philosophy had a strong influence.
By the way, he brings there a quote from Gersonides that sacred lies are forbidden:
Gersonides on Job 13:7: "Will you argue on God's behalf and speak deceitfully for Him? Would it be good if God were to examine you? Can you mock Him as one mocks a man? That is, with a human being it might be possible to cover over a friend's wrongdoing with false words in order to conceal his shame, but with regard to God, may He be blessed, this is not fitting; rather, it is a grave sin."