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Reproducing or republishing an article, in whole or in part, in any other forum requires permission of the author or the moderator. Additional information regarding subscription, submission, and backissue requests may be found at the end of this digest. It seems to me that in the Jewish context, Solomon Schechter and Robert Gordis formulated the answer nicely. Gordis further refined it as the consensus of the observant or involved community. So that yes, as free human beings, individuals have the right to believe what they want, practice what they want, ascribe meanings in any way they want.