tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post4286811860002700569..comments2023-10-12T10:09:54.121-04:00Comments on Believing is Knowing: Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin and Maimonides - An Unexceptional Book About An Exceptional Mind.David Guttmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668302013143561290noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-20998936964450404812019-10-26T01:42:05.669-04:002019-10-26T01:42:05.669-04:00And believing is NOT knowing. Belief means not kno...And believing is NOT knowing. Belief means not knowing. So while you believe, I know the G-d exists. You can, at least, get that straight. I hope.Shmuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08740974591394925894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-61636035434038145182019-10-26T01:39:30.798-04:002019-10-26T01:39:30.798-04:00David Guttman, with all due respect, people like y...David Guttman, with all due respect, people like you will destroy religion. Eventually. Because Drazin is trying to build the gap between religion and science/rationality, and your blog, when discrediting and disparaging an author who was a Brigadier General in the US army, not to mention that, as the first Jewish person to serve in this capacity, is unfair and dishonest at best. Because not only is he an accomplished writer, he saved the Chaplaincy in the US army. apparently, you are ignorant of the ramifications of this one apparent fact. This means that without Drazin, soldiers, going into battle, to serve this country, would not be told that they serve a greater purpose. Does this man really sound ignorant? An author of 50 notable works, hardly. Many scholars, including Herbert A. Davidson, Joel L. Kraemer, and Rabbi Micah Goodman agree with an esoteric Maimonides. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel even praised his Nachmanides book. And truthfully, even if Drazin was mistaken about some Talmudic quote there and then, the man is trying his best to make religion compatible with modern society, and that, not you, will keep Judaism alive. No sir, I find the arrogance on your part. Shmuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08740974591394925894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-34723814679721335692011-01-21T03:04:24.527-05:002011-01-21T03:04:24.527-05:00Apikores!Apikores!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-22542861233360322332009-09-29T16:30:23.698-04:002009-09-29T16:30:23.698-04:00jason please read all four posts on the Drazin lab...jason please read all four posts on the Drazin label in my sidebar and you will see that Drazin is not very knowledgeable. Rambam is at times hiding things from the simple reader but this is not one of them. If you want to verify please read the sources in context.David Guttmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07668302013143561290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-11175564849111726612009-09-29T16:24:37.945-04:002009-09-29T16:24:37.945-04:00I am very interested in your post. I read the boo...I am very interested in your post. I read the book by Israel Drazin. It was very informative, I disagreed with some points, but where are the "distortions" or lack of derech eretz?<br /><br />Yes, the Rambam's views were/are very radical, 90% of which did not take hold in the Jewish world. Rambam wrote in a style that leaves a lot of room for discussion, however, that doesn't mean one interpretation is a distortion. <br /><br />Without the personal criticism, what do you think is so distorted about Israel Drazin's approach?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10873442734256823402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-75862539592419928802008-12-13T21:09:00.000-05:002008-12-13T21:09:00.000-05:00This author has another book "Rational Approach to...This author has another book "Rational Approach to Torah Commentary" which is likewise fraught with factual errors, weak arguments and misunderstandings of sources. I have been disappointed with his work and your post solidifies my impressions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-13084149375808258682008-12-09T00:17:00.000-05:002008-12-09T00:17:00.000-05:00I agree that the way he deals with opposing viewpo...I agree that the way he deals with opposing viewpoints seems to indicate a lack of scholarship and a lack of derech eretz.<BR/><BR/>From what little I saw, before putting the book back on the shelf, he states what he believes and then dismisses all other opinions by the Rabbis as having been invented after the fact, meaning that they are unworthy of serious consideration by someone as rational and brilliant as himself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-18246130399408726672008-12-08T14:39:00.000-05:002008-12-08T14:39:00.000-05:00I believe the problem lies deeper than a superfici...I believe the problem lies deeper than a superficial reading of the Rambam. In my humble opinion Rabbi Drazin's concept of the "rational" is superficial and highly circular and his presentation of "opposing" views is even more superficial - this can be seen in his book, "A Rational Approach to Judaism...". I also noted a lack of editing in that book as well. I can't bring any examples at the moment because I returned the book to the store.Yehudahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012748301457819738noreply@blogger.com