When it's good to be a heretic

"Everything in God's creation has a purpose," a Hasidic rebbe once told his followeres.

"In that case," asked a disciple, "what is the prupose of apikorsus [heresy], of denying that God exists ?"

"Apikorsus is indeed purposeful," the rebbe replied. "For when you are confronted by another who is in need, you should imagine that there is no God to help, but that you alone can meet the man's needs."

Source: Jewish Literacy (R. Telushkin)