I'll agree that pure theology is very, very rare, but that goes the other way, too. Most frum Jews have a number of factors in their lifestyle choices. That doesn't mean theology doesn't play a significant part in the lifestyle decisions of either frum or non-frum Jews.
I think there’s a nuance here. It’s not really a matter of contrasting the theological strengths of those who are frum vs those who are OTD. I think frum people have an issue with the oft made claim whether expressed or implied, of the heroic truth-at-all-cost sojourn that led people to go OTD in order to be intellectually honest with themselves. That after much soul searching they came to the painful decision that they cannot live a lie.
Sometimes they will articulate philosophy, bible criticism, home in on problems in frum society or with authority figures, but despite their claims it is largely an outgrowth of far different issues. The reality is often some issue leading to disenchantment, subsequently followed by intellectual substantiation. I have dozens of questions but I’m not running off to McDonald’s. I accept that I don’t have to have all the answers and that the top intellectual minds in academia today and those in the upper echelons of the philosophy departments in the top universities have really lousy answers.
It is rare to hear of someone well adjusted, happy, good relationship with family friends, and community, good environment, no other relationship, addictions, or mental health problems, not a loner, who intellectually came to the conclusion that painful as it is they must give it all up to follow the truth they have discovered in their intellectual quest.
And the intellectual honesty claim is actually pretty ironic. At best an OTD person is simply swapping out one (to his mind) system of intellectual dishonesty for another. In effect the person is leaving a society that he claims represents intellectually dishonesty on his part for a world that is chaotic, fragmented, largely aimless, and anything but a paragon of intellectual honesty. It espouses equality, but perpetuates poverty and disparity in minority communities. It espouses gender equality and women’s liberation but produces a business world where women are widely harassed and abused and those that aren’t are objectified behind their backs (the me too movement is the tip of the iceberg). It talks about bettering those with gender issues, but ends up with suffering individuals who have ten times the suicide rate of the general population.
It boasts of advances in all areas of science and technology, but produces a society of narcissism, of people too glued to their phones and virtual world to interact with and care for those around them.
It talks intellectualism but operates with mob mentality and a cancel culture that is the antithesis of honest intellectualism.
It’s not like the upper echelons of that society are any better. Read the Chronicle of Higher Education and see what the great minds of today are busy with; petty personal peeves, illogical “white privelege” guilt inducing drives, endless fixation with tenure and kinah, taavah, and kavod, with little focus on the intellectual pursuits that are supposed to be their ambition.
The political class? They have become a caricature of themselves in their dishonesty, hypocrisy, and unfaithfulness to both family and constituents.
There is virtually no way to integrate into that society with giving lip service to ideas and ideals one knows to be intellectually dishonest when in polite company.
So if one comes across frum people dismissing theological claims to substantiate OTD it’s not because every frum person is a deep philosopher and theologian who has arrived at the truth, it’s because the claim of going OTD due to painful intellectual honesty rather than a reaction to personal and life issues or attraction to the freedom and taiva of the OTD lifestyle doesn’t hold water.
It’s somewhat reminiscent of the story of the guy who is seen sumptuously eating on Taanis Esther. When questioned as to why he was eating he replied that Taanis Esther is to commemorate the salvation from Haman’s attempt to annihilate the Jews, but after some serious introspection he decided that Haman was right, so he is eating.
When he is spotted on purim day eating, drinking, and partying with the rest of them he addresses their curious looks by saying that he did some further introspection and came to the conclusion that the Jews were in the right after all, therefore he is celebrating.
Is he a profound philosopher? Hardly. He is someone who is motivated to eat so he comes up with the moral imperative to do so.
Of course we have to show those who are OTD care and compassion, empathy and understanding, but that doesn’t mean we have to validate their newfound philosophical and theological discoveries.
