Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
Is the Moreh Nevuchim heretical?
Kahane-Was-Right BT:
--- Quote from: Tzvi Ben Roshel on November 05, 2008, 06:24:30 PM ---Its not good to read, unless its shown to a heritic, I hear its not good for a normal person (and it wasn't intended- It was intended for the "Perplexed", so if your not, then dont go into philosophy, simple Emuna a is great).
Also besides that, some Talmidim have gone into heresy from the book from studying themselves, then a Rav had to correct them on it.
--- End quote ---
Yes, it's incredibly complex and difficult and was designed for a specific audience (ironically, the 'perplexed'). As all of Rambam's works, it contains deep brilliant insights beyond the surface level but it takes a keen mind to discover them or piece them together. Perhaps the surface level was by-design for the 'perplexed' while the deeper understanding is only possible by the very learned (or with the aid of very learned and/or their commentaries) - thus the difficulty if the average yeshiva student (in between) picks it up on his own. This is my limited knowledge of the subject.
q_q_:
--- Quote from: Tzvi Ben Roshel on November 05, 2008, 06:24:30 PM ---Its not good to read, unless its shown to a heritic, I hear its not good for a normal person (and it wasn't intended- It was intended for the "Perplexed", so if your not, then dont go into philosophy, simple Emuna a is great).
Also besides that, some Talmidim have gone into heresy from the book from studying themselves, then a Rav had to correct them on it.
--- End quote ---
You obviously haven't read it.. And can't give a practical example.
I've read it and mentioned a few very useful things in there, including for example, the paragraphs that clarified parts of the rambam's mishneh torah.
q_q_:
--- Quote from: Kahane-Was-Right BT on November 05, 2008, 06:44:04 PM ---
--- Quote from: Tzvi Ben Roshel on November 05, 2008, 06:24:30 PM ---Its not good to read, unless its shown to a heritic, I hear its not good for a normal person (and it wasn't intended- It was intended for the "Perplexed", so if your not, then dont go into philosophy, simple Emuna a is great).
Also besides that, some Talmidim have gone into heresy from the book from studying themselves, then a Rav had to correct them on it.
--- End quote ---
Yes, it's incredibly complex and difficult and was designed for a specific audience (ironically, the 'perplexed'). As all of Rambam's works, it contains deep brilliant insights beyond the surface level but it takes a keen mind to discover them or piece them together. Perhaps the surface level was by-design for the 'perplexed' while the deeper understanding is only possible by the very learned (or with the aid of very learned and/or their commentaries) - thus the difficulty if the average yeshiva student (in between) picks it up on his own. This is my limited knowledge of the subject.
--- End quote ---
Try reading it.. there are certainly parts that are easy to understand and not complex at all. And very important. And fundamental.
I've mentioned what the main controversy with it is..
Another is.. I vaguely recall an odd statement in there.. that all prophecy is through an angel.. Other rabbis take him to task on it. And I think rabbi yaakov emden maintains that the rambam who wrote the brilliant mishneh torah, couldn't have written those lines.
You can always read about the controversies . And you see what is not controversial when you read it. Incase you can't spot it yourself.
Alot of it is very well proven material.
One shouldn't be afraid to read a book.. The book is not just for the wise and not just for the purplexed aristotelian student. You can skip over the latter parts . They stick out like a sore thumb.
Don't be afraid of it for hidden wisdom. It's NOT like the Zohar. There may be hidden things in thre for the wise, but he didn't intend it just for the wise.
Kahane-Was-Right BT:
Yeah I'm not afraid of it for myself. I've seen snippets of it here and there but am learning other texts currently.
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