הדברים הגורמים לכפירה באמונה מקורות

I should add to this a list of what are, in my view, the causes of disbelief, [falling into] lies and a spirit [of resistance to] the truths of the miracles and speculation concerning religious belief. I see eight of these often. [These eight are:] 1) the natural burdensomeness of effort for humans. Meaning, that when they see a certain thing that ought to be held and supported by proofs and used in religious life he flees from it and fears it. Thus, you see many people saying: “The truth is burdensome.” Some of them say: “The truth is bitter.” They desire choice and thus flee from [truth]. Concerning them does Scripture say, “Get you far from the Lord: to us is this land given in possession.”(Ezekiel 11:15) These fools do not understand that if they obeyed their instinct [of laziness, consistently] fleeing from effort and toil they would starve by failing to cultivate [the soil] or build [homes.] 2) The stupidity of many of them. They speak foolishly, are lazy in their hearts and say without thinking, “There is nothing there.” They also reflect on this inwardly. Of these people does Scripture say, “For now they say, We have no King, because we did not fear the Lord; what then will the King do to us?”(Hosea 10:3) They do not consider that if they spoke even a bit of this sort of foolishness in reference to a human ruler they’d die and disappear [all the more so with reference to God]. 3) Man’s instinct to fulfill his desires in terms of, [for instance:] food, feasting, sex and property. He rushes to [fulfill his desires] without thinking. Of these does Scripture say, “The despicable person says in his heart, ‘There is no God’.” This person does not consider that if he did this when he was ill or even when he was well eating whatever he desires and having sex with whoever he found he would die and perish. 4) An aversion to inquiry and an inability to listen attentively or engage in sustained thought. Thus he is content and says, “I already looked into it and I only got this out of it.” Of them does Scripture say, “The remiyah does not roast his catch: [but the industrious man arrives at precious wealth.]” (Proverbs 12:27) The meaning of remiyah is “one without ambition.” He does not get to what he desires. They don’t realize that if they acted in this way with regards to their desires they’d never fulfill them. 5) People’s brazenness and pride which causes them to not concede there is any wisdom hidden from them nor any science that stands before him [that he has yet to master]. Of these does Scripture say, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance thinks, He will not seek out: [all his thoughts are, God is not].” (Psalms 10:4) This type of individual does not understand that this argument would not help in fashioning a signet ring or writing a letter of the alphabet. 6) Something someone heard in the name of one of the dissenters which touched his heart and worried him and he is thus stuck in worry his entire life. Thus is it said, “The words of a grumbler are like blows, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.” (Proverbs 18:8) This individual doesn’t consider that if he doesn’t protect himself from cold and heat he will die [likewise one must guard oneself intellectually against heresy.] 7) A weak proof he heard from one of the monotheists and he thinks, therefore, that all of them are like this. He thus laughs at them and mocks them. He does not consider that the fact that a seller of precious linens can’t describe them does not diminish the linens themselves. 8) Someone for whom hatred exists between him and certain monotheists and this causes him to, [in addition to just hating them, also] hating their God. Of them is it said, “My zeal consumes me, because my enemies have forgotten Thy words.” (Psalms 119:139) This fool does not consider that his enemy could not possibly bring upon him what he has brought upon himself for his enemy does not have the power to eternally cause him perpetual, painful torment. There may, however, exist an individual whose error is due to certain Bible verses in which he saw something that should be kept far away from or who has an unanswered prayer to his God. Or he may [disbelieve out of] seeing that evildoers are not punished or who is perplexed by the continued rule of the disbelievers. Or he saw how death collects all life or he does not understand the notions of divine unity, the soul or reward and punishment. For these and other people [I tell them] that I will explain these [things] in the respective chapters of the relevant treatises. I will speak about them according to my ability. I hope that I will [positively] affect the hopes of those who venture into these subjects, God willing.