Baal Habos
Great post. and they wonder why I call it a cult...
>Because an elephant in the room is easier ignored than a buzzing bee.
The problem is, these days the Gedolim are becoming more and more like buzzing elephants.
I think you're a better judge on what a Frum person really believes and how much he doubts. You were a believer as an adult, while I started loosing it as I came into my own. Although I will say that when I was really FarFrumt, I not only believed, I thought I can prove God through Moreh Nvuchim etc.
But I even have a hard time believing many Frum people are in a state of mind that I was before my official skepticism, where I had dubts but wouldn't allow myself to "go there". That's already too much. So maybe this Stern himself is Abiselh you know, not all the way were he 'should' be.
OTD, Thanks!
> So maybe this Stern himself is Abiselh you know, not all the way were he 'should' be.
Yes, that's why I said "astonishing admission". No way this would make it into a more right wing paper.
Well said. We, grown men and women, are expected to act as if that which is uppermost in our minds doesn't even exist. What a horrific sham our lives have become.
>We, grown men and women
Kolel Wife,we could use a few good women on this blog. But I'm not sure I want to have real Kolel Wives reading my blog, unless you're a real skeptic. Are you pulling some kind of letzanus?
Re your poll "For believers only", I yell discrimination BHB. You need to create another poll with similar questions for the كفّار kuffār
Actually I think this makes sense. There's lots of things that go on in society, but people make a conscious decision not to have it all 'out in the open', to at least maintain appearances. Many examples, including marriages, adultry other issues etc etc etc. Society requires a certain facade.
>Because an elephant in the room is easier ignored than a buzzing bee.
That is exactly why you bloggers are in business.
> Actually I think this makes sense
Sure, everything I write makes sense!
Dr Stern's letter didn't say it was OK to doubt; he said it's a type of Amalek.
> Dr Stern's letter didn't say it was OK to doubt; he said it's a type of Amalek.
But it's certainly NORMAL to doubt, if everyone is doing it. Ruban Bgezel, Miut Be'aroyos, vkulan b'avak loshon Harah oob'kefirah.
So if everyone's doing it, why don't we bring the conversation out in the open?
JS
Do you ever doubt?
uh-oh. for the record: I, JS, am emphatically neither "Jacob Stein" or "Dr. Yaakov Stern"---both of whose perspectives, verbal styles and levels of inanity are strikingly, even suspiciously, similar.
I've long noted--with considerable dismay at his inxplicable knack for getting said rants published in the JP---Dr. Stern's entries in the Letters section of the Jewish Press. For what it's worth, they exhibit a very consistent and defined, if obnoxious, worldview: basically all examples of independent thought he disses & dismisses as "gedolim-bashing". He's also a fan of that time-honored device of "I'm not criticizing---I, too am guilty of the above"---which tends to come across about as sincere as "nisht oif Shabbos geredt, but what stocks are you pushing this month?" or "no offense, but that haircut makes you look like a baboon."
There is a big difference between "questioning" and "skepticism", and even more so questioning a modern day Rabbi and questioning Moshe Rabbeinu.
Not sure what Stern had in mind, however IMHO, asking questions is good, I've questioned everything (almost). The problem is where you you look for answers. Hint - the internet is the wrong place.
What's wrong with questioning moshe rabennu.
No other field do they kill u for questioning a historical figure.
Imagine getting stoned for questioning wether einstein was right. Imagine where science would be if it didn't.
". The problem is where you you look for answers. Hint - the internet is the wrong place."
There are skeptic blogs someplace other than the internet?
>The problem is where you you look for answers.
Well, they FORCE it underground.
If everyone's got questions, as Stern implies, why is it impossible to ask basic questions in public? You think you can pick up your hand in a shiur and ask some really probing questions? (Don't try it till your kids are married). Why can't you walk into Shul with a copy of "a Letter to my Rabbi" and ask for answers?
>There are skeptic blogs someplace other than the internet?
LOL
>You think you can pick up your hand in a shiur and ask some really probing questions?
Actually, I have.
At the conclusion of R' A. Miller zt"l shiurim one could ask any question. If you listen to his tapes, you'll find them.
>Actually, I have.
That was you? The Shidduch is off. 
>At the conclusion of R' A. Miller zt"l shiurim one could ask any question.
What kind of questions did people ask? Work this whole thing up as a rebuttal, with specifics, and I'll post it as a Guest post.
Don't remember specifics, this was many years ago. But you can read his books on hashkufah.
I've read some of his books. But the issue is not the hashkafa, but rather if as Stern says that everyone questions the veracity of the Torah, why isn't it discussed in public?
Or let me put it a different way, if everyone questions the veracity of the Torah, how come yeshiva kids aren't told this? Why don't they have asifos on discussing this?
>3 Visitors Online
Ah, Rabboisai mir velen bentchen
yehi shaim,,,,,
although one may be female, in which case....
>although one may be female, in which case....
Maybe we're all female, in which case it's still OK.
excellent point - although in front of jacob stein? - he may object (cant remember the halacha there, if there is a man present)
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