Dear Avram,
I’ve read your long post (#2083987) numerous times, and I’m not convinced that I can place your debate. My position did not change. As long as observance is a given, it is of little consequence to the Torah way of life what theories are prominent in a given group. I suspect that if we compare groups we will find that the best of each are both similar and few in number. What’s your argument? Should we tell Chabad that their teachings must be wrong, because outside of Chabad they do not preach the same? Chabad is wrong because nobody else is Chabad? Maybe the hostility is mutual and therefore artificial. The Baal Hatanya’s opponents put him in jail. Nobody has apologized yet, so maybe all the spite is justified. You compare Chabad to Early Christianity. Nobody knows what Christianity was like in it’s early days.
“But to lay out my question simply: if beliefs do matter for your level, and a group claims to offer the highest level… should their claims not be checked into on behalf of those who want to climb higher?”
I hear the question. But it’s not for me to answer. Chabad’s problem. Every group is leaving out something.
“”“I DOUBT ANYONE’S COMMITMENT COMES ONLY FROM THEIR AWARENESS OF HASHEM. BILAM HAD A STRONG AWARENESS OF HASHEM AND NOTHING ELSE. SO HE WAS ONLY ABSORBED IN HIMSELF.”
I didn’t say that awareness alone was sufficient. We have mitzvos to love and fear Hashem, and a cursory reading of Chumash reveals the importance of faith in Hashem.”
So we agree on this.