[Avodah] Bnei Noach

[Micha Berger]

I opined on Areivim that I thought the 7MbN were not intended to be a
religion, but a criterion by which we assess adherents of respective
religions. For example, the assessment that a Moslem (barring the set who are
violent in non-7MbN ways) is not violating the 7MbN, but a trinitarian Xian,
may or may not (depending upon whether the trinity is shituf).

I therefore expressed surprise at someone posting a recollection that Rav
Moshe in IM prohibited Benei Noach from forming their own rites.

On Thu, October 26, 2006 2:34 pm, R Zev Sero replied on Areivim:
: No.  "The rule is: we do not allow them to invent a religion, or to
: make up their own mitzvot.  Either he becomes a ger tzedek and accepts
: all the mitzvot, or stay with his law and neither add nor subtract.
: If he worked in the Torah, or kept Shabbat, or invented something,
: we beat him and punish him and let him know that he deserves to die
: for this, but we do not kill him."
: Hil' Melachim 10:12 (10:9 in the standard editions)
: http://kodesh.snunit.k12.il/i/e510.htm

: In other words, Islam is *NOT* permitted... the difference is merely that
: Xians (at least pre-Reformation ones, at least those who are knowledgeable
: and devout) are chayavei mita mamash, while Moslems are not.

I'm not as sure what to make of the Rambam. Note his two examples are from the
Torah mamash. Mitzvos, not made up mitzvos. I therefore do not think "vela'aso
mitzvos le'atzmam mida'atam" refers to making up "mitzvos", but picking and
choosing amongst the real mitzvos.

Note also the two examples are mentioned in the gemara as special cases,
possibly geneivah, possibly akin to eishes ish. Which leaves me really
confused as to the Rambam's point, since the general rule as it appears to
either RZS or myself is different in kind than his two examples.

Tir'u baTov!
-mi

-- 
Micha Berger             Spirituality is like a bird: if you tighten
micha at aishdas.org        your grip on it, it chokes; slacken your grip,
http://www.aishdas.org   and it flies away.
Fax: (270) 514-1507                            - Rav Yisrael Salanter