Tahini: I can only say thank you and I hope we have both learned something here. Although I believe you will find reference to amulet use in Rambam too (Rambam will never argue with concepts mentioned in the Gemara) despite his reputation as a ‘rationalist’.
Feif Un: You wrote (concerning amulets):
“…It is entirely valid to take the approach of the Vilna Gaon, The Noda BeYehuda and others that reject their use… ”
– regarding its actual use, agreed, but not to dismiss it as mere superstition which was the point I was addressing, and which no Acharon would come near to saying. The Gemara in Gittin (7th Perek) has 2 Daf that only talk about weird methods of healing various sicknesses which R’ Akiva Eiger, Chasam Sofer and others say are not to be practised today. However, they are not in the category of superstition
You wrote: “Finally, yesh din v’yesh dayon… – essentially you are sayig that no one has any right to question a posek, talmid chochom, or godol, and no one has any right to call out an egregious or uncomfortable fact about their works……………..
Yours is a pretty stifling standard, one that would silence all debate within frum communities. You may think that is healthy. I don’t…”
No, sorry you seem to have totally missed my point. Debate in Halachah is encouraged and one is permitted to question anything using one’s logic and knowledge. However I believe there are some basic caveats to this:
1) Not to make personal attacks against anybody but especially against a Talmid Chochom.
2) To use only Torah methodology and logic in formulating an argument – and not allow personal bias cloud that. As I mentione in an earlier post, this is very difficult in areas such as Tznius which impacts our way of life every day, in the public arena concerning our individuality and self-expression.
3) Ultimately to submit to greater authorities than ourselves even if we disagree or do not understand.
You wrote “And again, if these who are being “insulting” are truly in the wrong, they will be accountable to the aibishter at the end of their days, not to you.”
– Agreed, and I am unclear why you would believe I ever indicated otherwise.