Reply To: Clarification to mod and DaMoshe

Yb
“the leader of the habad hasidim gave explicit instructions to his followers. whenever you engage in debate with people of a different persuasion , you must do so with the condition that you [the follower] in your own mind give NO CREDENCE WHATSOEVER EVEN TO THE POSSIBILITY that he might have something to tell you that you previously did not know.

That is their starting point.”

I never heard this. To me, if anyone is questioning the Rebbe or his teachings, I’ll look to see if that person or group has greater depth of connection to Hashem for me in their teachings. Or if the person is a greater leader etc. I haven’t found that to be true. Not just me, but a soon to be giyores iyH who I had taught Chassidus on the basis of thinking she was Jewish, (I think I’ve heard Chassidus is ok to teach goyim too- they’re also obligated to believe in Hashem), told me that Chassidus had infected her so to speak- that when she is told about a mandatory class she needs to take for giyur and how it’s so amazing and deep, she’s found everything dry and basic (I’m talking hashkofa etc) after learning Chassidus. We both agreed that Breslov Chassidus does seem to impart the same fire, but personally, I see how Chassidus Chabad enhances that too, and helps a person experience closeness with Hashem without needing to escape oneself and one’s circumstances to do so.