RAMBAM's 13 Principles of Faith

I would like a discussion on these priciples.  Do they fit in the faith as you see it?

I also would ask you to use your given or legal name.  Please don't tell me your online ID.  Don't be fake, be real.  I will not repsond to anyone who does not reveal there true names as they are hiding something.  Can you guess what that is?  Ahh, that's a rhetorical questions for those of you who might not catch it.  I look forward to any civil discourse ---

The Thirteen Principles fall into three general categories:

     (a) the nature of belief in G-d;

     (b) the authenticity of the Torah, its validity and immutability; and

     (c) man's responsibility and ultimate reward.

A) The Nature of Belief in G-d

1. G-d's Existance. There is no partnership in creation. G-d is the sole Creator and the universe continues to exist only because He wills it so...

2. G-d is a complete and total Unity. He is not a collection of limbs and organs, as are man and animals. He canoy be split as can a rock or divided into component elements as can everything in Creation.  This is the concept expressed in the first verse of the Shema.

3. G-d is not physical nor can His essence be grasped by the Human imagination...

4. G-d is eternal and the First Source. Everything in the created universe has a moment when it came into existance; by definition no creature can be infinite. G-d transcends time, however, because time itself is His creation.

5. Prayers should be directed to G-d. It is tempting to beseech the angels or such mighty forces as the sun or constellations, because G-d has entrusted them with carrying out His will. None of them have any power independent of what G-d assigns them. Therefore, prayers should only be directed towards G-d Himself.

B) Authenticity of the Torah

6. G-d communicates with man. In order for man to carry out his divinely ordered mission, he must know what it is. Prophecy is the means by which G-d communicates His wishes to man. It is a gift that man can attain upon reaching heights of self-perfection.

7. Moses' prophecy is unique. Moses' prophecy isnot only true, but of a quality unapproached by that of any prophet before or since. It is essential that his prophecy be unrivaled so that no later 'prophet' could ever claim that he had received a 'Torah' that was superior to that of Moses.

8. The entire Torah is G-d-given. Every word in the Torah was dictated to Moses by G-d... There is no difference between the apprently trival verse and the awsomely important verses. Moreover, the same applies to the Oral Law that explains the Torah. All was given by G-d to Moses.

9. The Torah is unchangable. Since both the Written and Oral Law were G-d-given, they cannot be improved upon in any way.

C) Man's Responsibility and Ultimate Reward

10. G-d knows man's thoughts and deeds. Man's individual deeds are important to G-d and so are the hopes and thoughts that drive him. G-d is aware of everything man thinks and does.

11. Reward and punishment. No one acts in a vacuum and no deed goes unrewarded or unpunished. This includes that one cannot cancel out a bad deed with a good one. Each is treated independently.

12. The Messiah will come. We are to conduct ourlives according to the Torah and remain faithful that the Messiah will come at the time deemed by G-d to be proper. This faith includes the principle that only the Davidic dynasty will provide the Messianic King.

13. The dead will live again in the Messianic era, when the world will attain a new spiritual and physical level of perfection. Those who have not been found too unworthy to enter this exalted
state will live again to enjoy it.

13 PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

1. Ani ma'amin... I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, creates and guides all creatures, and that He alone made, makes, and will make everything.

2. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, is unique, and there is no uniqueness like His in any way, and that He alone is our G-d, Who was, Who is, and Who
will always be.

3. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, is not physical and is not affected by any physical phenomena, and that there is no comparison whatsoever to Him.

4. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name. is the very first and the very last.

5. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name- to Him alone is it proper to pray and it is not proper to pray to any other.

6. I believe with complete faith that all the words of the prophets are true.

7. I believe with complete faith that the prophecy of Moses our teacher, peace upon him, was true, and that he was the father of the prophets- both those who preceeded him and those who him.

8. I believe with complete faith that the entire Torah now in our hands is the same one that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace upon him.

9. I believe with complete faith that this Torah will not be exchanged nor will there be another Torah from the Creator, Blessed is His Name.

10. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, knows the deeds of all human beings and their thoughts, as it is said, "He fashions their hearts all together, He
comprehends all their deeds."

11. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, rewards with good all those who observe his commandments, and punishes those who violate his commandments.

12. I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he may delay, nevertheless I anticipate every day that he will come.

13. I believe with complete faith that there will be a resuscitation of the dead whenever the wish emanates from the Creator, Blessed is His Name and exalted is His mention, forever and for all eternity.