[Avodah] Local, Non-Global or Global Flood

[Micha Berger]

On Sun, Dec 05, 2010 at 11:51:24AM +0200, Eli Turkel wrote:
:> Had there not been a clear precedent from "our sages and prophets",
:> AND had the proof for eternity been more solid. the Rambam says could
:> have reinterpreted the verse.

: I am not sure that makes much of a difference. Bottom line Rambam is ready
: to reinterpret pesukim if necessary (except perhaps in cases of clear
: statements from the sages and prophets).

I'm saying the Rambam excludes the possibility of a real conflict between
Chazal's understanding of a pasuq and a solid philosophical argument. Not
that he would invent a new peshat against that of Chazal's.

The Rambam draws two distinctions between explaining all the
anthropomorphications in Tanakh as allegory/idiom and his unwillingness to
declare maaseh bereishis allegorical (and embrace Artisto's beginning-less
universe).

1- Aristo's argument against creation is flawed.

2- It would run counter to the nevi'im and chazal. Whereas the notion
that G-d couldn't have a body is provable from within mesorah.

My position in this discussion have been to assert that second criterion.

The piece you cited is where the Rambam says he has the ability to do fit
the pesuqim to an allegory while asserting Arisotilian infinity, not that
he feels he "could" as in it beimng within the list of correct choices.
After all, the Moreh continues by giving the second criterion explaining
why he wouldn't.

So, the Rambam wouldn't REinterpret, only interpret when he feels the
question isn't settled by neviim and chazal.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them,
micha at aishdas.org        I have found myself, my work, and my God.
http://www.aishdas.org                - Helen Keller
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