Reply To: Question of an ignorant, closed-minded Lubavitcher

Neville,

>>>the tone still comes off as defensive when you say “so what?”

That’s why I clarified myself.

>>>What seems to be the mainstream approach would be to say “we believe moshiach can come from the dead, others believe the Rebbe is literally still alive in the flesh and can never die; both are legitimate shittos in Chabad.” Am I wrong about this?

It depends. This may be the approach of the more openminded and respectful-of-other-opinions guys. While the more hotblooded my-opinion-is-the-only-opinion guys will rant and rave about the stupidity of those with that opinion, and constantly call them out as crazies.
I think this is how it usually is in life and politics: Many people are just live-and-let-live, even if your opinion is ridiculous. Others like to fight for truth.
(Though it may sound like I’m putting down the second type, I’m not necessarily. There is a concept of standing up for the truth without being afraid. However, the line between not bending for truth and disrespecting differing opinions is very thin.)

>>>Maybe it’s not so much “denying” the beliefs so much as concealing.

Well said.
(If someone would deny the existence of the Moshiach-faction (quite prevalent) or alive-faction (less prevalent), that would make them either a liar (“מפני דרכי שלום”) or oblivious.)

>>>The simplest explanation is that they don’t hold it’s wrong and certainly don’t hold it’s avoda zara.

Mainly the latter.

>>>otherwise it sounded like he was accusing them of putting it davka on the eastern wall.

I think he was (which is a false accusation, כנ”ל).