[Avodah] anarchy/libertarianism

[t613k at aol.com]

>> ...It's not a matter of the Rambam's correctness, it's
a  matter of the usability of his position given where we stand. And I
was  saying that for most of us, this position doesn't fit.

My problem with  the Rambam is more the Shuby question... Personally, I
am incapable of  believing that a person with Downs, who is capable of an
incredible emunah  peshutah (he doesn't reason his way out of believing
that G-d is as real as a  person he never met) but less compehension,
actually not only gets a harder  olam hazeh, but less hana'ah miziv
haShechinah when it's all over. I can't do  it, because my son Shuby
makes me nogei'ah bedavar, but I still think the  objection is sound. <<


-- 
Micha  Berger             

 
 
>>>>>
You have touched on this before, but it's still not clear to me.  Does  the 
Rambam actually say or imply that only intellectually superior people go to 
 olam haba or to the highest level of olam haba?
 
The confusion to me is that Shuby's brain may be limited but surely his  
neshama is not limited?  Assuming that he fulfills all the mitzvos he is  able 
to the best of his understanding and ability in this world,  surely  his 
neshama will not have "less hana'ah miziv haShechinah when it's all  over"?  
 
You know the famous story, "You won't be asked, 'Why weren't you the Vilna  
Gaon?'  You will be asked, 'Why weren't you Zusha?' "
 
Does the Rambam hold that you /will/ be asked, "Why weren't you the Vilna  
Gaon?"  even if your IQ was fifty points lower than the Gaon's?  
 
(The average Jewish IQ is 110 and the Gaon's was at least 160, probably  
higher.)  (Yes I know that the average IQ on Avodah is higher than 110 but  
it's still way lower than the Gaon's!)  
 

--Toby  Katz
========== 

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