Yitayningwhat, I ws alerted to the significance of this Rambam by the Chazon Ish’s writings in Hilchos Shechita. This was discussed at length in an earlier thread a few months ago on Apikursis. There I brought from the Chazon Ish in a few places, that to be an apikorus means one must live a frei lifestyle and actively rebel. Merely thinking incorrect hashkafos is not enough. Thus, the often quoted saying that a nebech an apikorus is oich an apikorus is not correct according to kimat all the shitos of the Rishonim. Please find the earlier thread.
Charlie, did you know that Penzias is a frum yid who worked at Bell Labs in NJ?