When we say Eilu V’Eilu we are acknowledging that Hashem gave the T”CH the authority to pasken as they see fit. And that is why we each find a rov and rely on his p’sak when we don’t know what we are supposed to do. But no one has the right to say it is kefira to question the idea that no two rabbonim pasken the same way. They cannot both be right at the bottom line. The halacha has to be a yes or no. There might be wiggle room and different ways of examining a halacha in many instances, but in much basic halacha there is only assur or muttar. Something is not a little bit kosher.
Nevertheless, as Hashem gave the authority to rabbonim, we still follow our rov, even if it were to turn out he is mistaken (the Bat Kol story). I cannot help but be bothered, though, by this, because I feel there should be a consensus across the board. If there were, then I believe there would be greater achdus in Klal Yisroel.
MW13, I do not chalilah look down upon anyone who is ultra frum, machmir or whatever you wish to call it. You call your chumros “not taking chances.” I follow many of those same chumros, but I see the kulos as following the Torah as Hashem instructed us to follow it. I believe that very often, kol hamosif goreya, and I am not the person who originated that expression. The very fact that you feel compelled to respond to what I write, shows how you feel. I am perfectly comfortable with you following whatever chumrah you desire – as long as you do not begin to think that your chumrah is the actual halacha, and I am just a poor sinner because I don’t follow it as you do. And if you doubt it, then just read any post here where people have written that they follow halacha, but are taking on a chumrah because they need to work on themselves.
I know many areas that I need to work on, but it is because I am clearly NOT following the halacha properly (like being nichshal in Loshon Hara), not because I am doing the right thing, but think I will be better if I work on myself and adopt stricter guidelines to follow. When we do that we are actually CHAS V’SHOLOM diminishing the Torah, by implying that it is not good enough as is. Maybe I am not expressing myself properly, and if so, for that I am sorry.