Can questions be asked that might challenge belief?

Question

I was a bit surprised to find a question such as: "Are there any holes in the Kuzari argument for the transmission of Torah from Sinai?" because it seems to be asking for heresy. In actuality, it isn't heresy-seeming at all, but the opposite- as the end of the question states:

are [there] any serious counter-arguments that have been raised against it, either by Torah scholars or secular philosophers. If so, how have these counter-arguments been addressed in turn?

But, practically speaking, the answers don't address this last point, and anyone who might do research on the topic might not find answers to challenges that (s)he finds. As one comment there notes:

The raavad attacks the Rambam for bringing up the yediah-bechirah paradox when there is not a clear solution. How can you ask us to do something similar?

In my mind, such a question provokes disbelief, at least passively, and would thus be halakhically problematic. I'll also ask about future questions: what would we do with questions that actually are heresy seeking? Should/is this a concern to the Mi Yodea community?

On the one hand, anyone asking a question here has access to the internet (I've yet to find an internet filter that can filter out heresy, though if someone knows of one without using a whitelist I'd love to hear about it), and so a person interested in the matter can theoretically do the research him/herself (Avodah Zarah 6b: it's like a case of both sides of the river), though this site's format obviously makes such things easier, which is why it exists. Furthermore, as an internet community, there's much to be said about keeping things as open as possible.

On the other hand, if the Mi Yodea site is 'for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition', does that mean that the questions should also be based on Jewish law and tradition? (I'm assuming that asking a question which is likely to result in links to heretical viewpoints is prohibited from the standpoint of Jewish law, Rashbatz's opinion notwithstanding.) Should we strive to keep Mi Yodea 'clean and kosher'?

Note, I have no problem with questions such as this one (God's existence) or this one (challenge to divinity of the Torah), or questions where the OP self-identifies as an atheist or anything like that - those questions are looking for Jewish answers. This question, however, is specifically looking for heretical positions

Related, I think, to the question of "How Modest Should This Site Be"

Answer 1

I think that questions that are respectfully asked are generally fine even if they involve heretical ideas. Some readers may be working in kiruv or teaching children and may have to contend with such topics; I'd rather give them good, sourced, Jewish answers than hope they'll find something relevant on Yahoo Answers or Wikipedia. And understanding both sides of a dispute is important in firming up one's own belief, too, or at least that's been my experience.

I said "generally fine" above because there's a type of question we see sometimes that's of the "I'm going to present an anti-Jewish idea; refute this" form. Even when those are respectfully asked, if they stray into comparative religion (off-topic) or opinion-based discussion or soapboxing (not constructive), they should be shut down. But I don't think "this involves something that could be (or is) heretical" is automatic grounds to close.

How people vote on such questions is, of course, a separate matter that can't be regulated.

Answer 2

Since this question was asked on Meta, then I'll answer in the spirit of Meta.

Since this site is open to those who want to learn more about Judaism, such people may come with very strong, heretical questions. They are genuinely curious, but still posing challenges in ways that are not really interested in respecting religion or the ultimate conclusion. You can't a priori call that out of bounds and still maintain a site that welcomes sincere questions.

And when we contemplate that this site is explicitly pluralistic, where questions about the Reform Movement or Conservative responsa are within bounds, it cannot be that such a question is out of bounds for the site. Unlike the sexuality limitation, the line is too blurry.

The Halachic issues of participating in, reading and answering such questions is one thing - that would be a question for the main site - but in terms of something being on topic for this site, I can't see any principled reason to come to any other conclusion.

Answer 3

I think nearly any question can be asked, if it is written properly. The question you brought in your example was not written properly, it should have included motivation (that the OP brought in a comment).

I think if someone asks, "Are there any holes THAT I MIGHT HEAR WHEN PRESENTING the argument of the Kuzari?" that would be acceptable. But an unadorned request for heresy is frankly out of bounds for this site. It is neither a question of "those who base their lives on Jewish law" nor a sincere person "interested in learning more". These questions are out of scope of Mi Yodeya.