Q&A: Following up on Column 247
Following up on Column 247
Question
A. It is not at all reasonable to assume that out of so many opinions in the world, I am דווקא the one who is not locked in, with no possibility of being mistaken — unconsciously, of course, since no one knows that he is mistaken — blocked, coming from mistaken premises, limited. Rather, it is very reasonable to assume that I have a counterpart.
B. Interestingly, most people in the world are confident in their opinion — that they are not blocked and are not mistaken (for one reason or another), and their opinion resembles that of their family / their country / their friends (most people in certain regions favor Judaism, while most people in Muslim countries favor Islam). Is that not reason to undermine my assumption that my opinion is the open and objective one?
C. Even in my belief as a Jew, I have to rely on sages first, since I am not able to investigate everything myself — and again the question of truth returns?
Answer
If this is a follow-up to that column, then in the future it would be better to post it there. A few days ago there was a similar discussion there (maybe with you?). See the latest comments.
The first two questions were answered there. I have nothing to add. As for question C, if you have no way to investigate it yourself, you choose a rabbi for yourself, and that’s that.
Discussion on Answer
That has no relevance to the discussion, for two main reasons: 1. Choose a rabbi who, in your estimation, is not closed off / blocked. 2. Even if not — you obey him not because he is right, but because that is the halakhic position that is binding on you from your perspective.
Hi,
The similar discussion wasn’t with him but with me.
The questioner asked other questions that naturally follow.
But here too the Rabbi didn’t answer.
I didn’t find the answers in the previous reference — if the Rabbi can, please write them to me again (the answers to questions 1–2).
As for the answer to the third question — I didn’t understand the second answer (“Even if not — you obey him not because he is right, but because that is the halakhic position that is binding on you from your perspective” — as long as he has a counterpart, his position is not binding on me at all).
I have nothing to add. I didn’t see any question here that wasn’t answered there. If you disagree — suit yourself.
The Rabbi won’t admit that Column 247 needs refreshing.
Forget it, he’s locked in.
Because he knows this question isn’t simple, so he refers people to a column that answers almost nothing apart from a hypothetical case, just so he won’t be a postmodernist.
It’s not that I agree — I just went through the comments and didn’t find it. If the Rabbi can write me the answers again briefly.
Thank you very much!
Israel, asking Rabbi Michi about this topic is like looking for a coin under a streetlamp at night, one more time after you already looked there.
True, the rationale for asking him is that it’s the only place on the web with light — but on the other hand, you won’t find the answer to this issue here.
So where will you? I’m still looking — maybe in the dark, but if the coin is found at all, it’ll be there.
But the rabbi I choose — I can’t know that he isn’t blocked. That’s something I can know only about myself.