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If someone genuinely spends all their time studying philosophy/biblical scholarship/other related field and doesn't conclude that God exists, are they punished for their disbelief?

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Zachary Shrank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering. Check out our Code of Conduct.
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    I believe we've had an iteration of this question before. Possibly this: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/28636/…. Related: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/139163/… Commented Nov 25 at 2:03
  • Philosophy is not the best way to go about coming to emunah. In fact, any kabbalist I've seen who has discussed the topic would posit that it's the absolute worst way to try to come to emunah. Commented Nov 25 at 16:49
  • Could you elaborate [in the question] on why [you think] such a person [might] be punished for this? Commented Nov 25 at 20:45
  • Zachary Shrank, welcome to Mi Yodeya, and thanks for bringing this intriguing question here! I hope you get useful answers to this post, and that you also take the opportunity to explore some of our existing related Q&As, such as those linked above by @RabbiKaii or other posts in our hashkafah-philosophy tag. Commented Nov 26 at 2:28
  • Famously you can't be commanded to believe in the commander. There are long and interesting discussions in the Rishonim and Acharonim on exactly how to interpret the Mitzva of Ha'amanut Elokut (or if it should even be one of the 613). The general angle taken is that anyone intellectually honest will conclude that there is a First, Real and Necessary Being, and the Mitzva is to get to know Him and/or deepen/internalize that knowledge. See Derech Mitzvotecha Haamanut Elokut, prologue to chapter 2 in specific, and the whole piece in general, for a complete understanding of this fascinating Mitzva Commented Nov 26 at 2:35

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Maimonides (Yesodei Hatorah 1:1) posits: "The foundation of all foundations, and the pillar of wisdom, is to know that there is a Primary Being who brought all existence into being."

So, if the individual described wasn't capable to comprehend this basic "pillar of wisdom", as elaborated upon by Maimonides, can we suggest that perhaps they would be exempt from punishment because they're learning challenged?

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  • But I wouldn't say this is necessarily true, in the sense that if someone studied something like the documentary hypothesis/a lot of modern biblical scholarship, or saw no good argument for the existence of God(which isn't such a rare claim, even for Jews), and then either went OTD or never became religious, could they be blamed? Commented Nov 25 at 1:52
  • @ZacharyShrank The question was about "someone [who] genuinely spent all their time studying philosophy". The person you describe in you comment doesn't seem to fit that description. Did he study Maimonides' arguments for the existence of God? Was he able to refute them? Commented Nov 25 at 2:03
  • This is not based on a true story, but to go with it, let's just say that the does refute the basic arguments of Rambam, what then? I also want to point out, I was adding an extra idea of someone who doesn't believe that Judaism is true. But it is a good point, worth the rephrase of the question. Commented Nov 26 at 1:37

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