Nebech Apikores is oich Apikores

Rabbi Elias does a masterful job analyzing the famous quote from Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk zt"l, See the parasha sheet below.

נעבעך אפיקורס איז אויך אפיקורס

Nebech Apikores is oich Apikores

An unfortunate Apikores is also an Apikores.

I would like to note that my understanding of the statement is much less radical (and therefore less controversial) than the standard interpretation. I think what Reb Chaim meant to say has nothing to do with the person's din in Shomayim or in Olam HaBo. It is highly unlikely that Reb Chaim would make such assertions. Rather, in response to the Ra'avad's complaint that the Rambam should not have classified someone who mistakenly believes that Hashem has a form and body as a min, Reb Chaim counters that we have no idea how Hashem will treat such a person - rachamav al kol ma'asav - but technically the category into which such a person fits is that of a min. The Rambam himself, as Rabbi Elias notes, indicates that the din in Shomayim is not severe for those who are tinokos she'nishbu. Thus, what Reb Chaim is saying is only that the nebbechkeit - which will no doubt be taken into account in the Olan HoEmes - has nothing to do with the categorizations of the various beliefs and the believers therein.