Wouldn't be surprised if it were both. From what I've heard, Haredi are motherfucking CRAZY. Its folks like this that give Jews a bad name. Jewish folks, gather up, and tell these fuckers to shut the fuck up and get outta the Stone Age, or stop associating themselves with Judaism. Yes, I'd recommend the same to extreme sects of all faiths, not just the Abrahamic ones. They ain't doin ya any favors.
Well, I already consider the haredi to be heretics, for a lot of reasons...
Care to elaborate, they seem to come across as the Jewish equivalent of Rapturites in terms of theological accuracy. Or am I mistaken?
One big problem I have with them is that their men refuse to work, and spend all their time studying Torah. While Torah study is itself worthwhile, there is a strong tradition that it should not be a profession. Most modern rabbis are teachers, counselors, or administrators by profession. The great sages all had day jobs - Maimonides was a doctor, and Rashi was a winemaker. Instead, the haredi don't work, and instead rely on charity to support themselves.
But really, the fact that they give Judaism a bad name is the worst crime of all - literally. The worst sin in Judaism is
chillul hashem, or "Desecration of the Name". I would translate it as hurting G-d's PR. It is the worst sin because it drives others away from G-d, leading them to sin in turn. And it cannot be atoned for.
