[net.religion] Higher Criticism and its Consequences

rjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob]) (11/14/84)

Subject: Higher Biblical Criticism - Its Consequences

Throughout the continuing discussion over the validity
of the Scriptures we have had the YBD viewpoint rather
jammed in our faces in a hostile fashion.  Somehow this
presentation method helps relieve YBD's frustration
with us Know-nothing Christians while at the same time
provides us with a little intellectual fanny paddling
to remind us collectively of our grievous treatment of
Jews in the distant past up to the present.  However,
give us break YBD.  It is difficult to endure and answer
reasonably to continued abuse of this kind...I'm mean it
is kind of tough to have a close quarters, rational
discussion (say in a sleeping bag) with a porcupine,
even if he or she has a Phd.

Now YBD comes to us ostensibly in the role 
of the "lower critic" (which is an honorable term) who
is seriously searching for the best text.  Although an
undoubtedly diligent and bright scholar his conclusions
end up appearing distorted by his vehemently partisan view-
point - all the other scholars (mostly Christian) are
incorrect about the documentation and worse yet they
are wrongheaded bigots to boot !  Now YBD has a strong
case against my and others ignorance of the Biblical
Languages, but if he makes that the sticking point - the
whole discussion stops and we just get the litany of
"How dumb are we ?" over and over.

But I digress,... What are we to do..rely on the best
scholarship we can come up with in the groves of Academe
or check back with YBD after  5 years or so of Greek and
Hebrew studies plus a crash course in the "Jewish Perspective" ?
Obviously most of us must stick with the former.

So YBD's conclusion is that our texts are no good-  thoroughly
redacted to mean just what we want them to mean.  There is a
text we corrupted ( given to us by the N'tzarim ) but we can't
find it so the conclusion....in effect is the very same one that 
the "higher critics" reached in the middle of the 19th century.  

YBD's purpose is to show that we are not on solid ground textually 
and that is sufficient to his Jewish case.  The higher critics were 
interested in syncretizing the ideas of the Enlightenment into
Christianity  which had an entirely different motive than YBD
but in action has much the same effect - it cuts the guts out of
the Bible, especially the New Testament as the revealed Word of
God.  The higher critics also "mythologized" all the supernatural
parts of the Scriptures that of course didn't fit in with the
Natural Science of then (and now).  This course of events ran most
rapidly in Germany where those theologians and teachers who held
this liberal view of Scripture grew in number and worked their
way into the leadership and professorship of Protestant Germany.
(No conspiracy implied !)  The devastation to the Faith in the
Protestant sector of Germany was severe.  Militarism and Anti-
Semitism have long standing records in Germany and the consequent
devaluation of the Faith by the New Liberalism took away one
possible source of opposition to these twin evils.  By the early
20th Century, Kaiser Bill could promote Germany into foolish
imperialistic ventures with nary a whimper from the Church.
Later on the infamous Hitler could spout his foolishness and
perpetrate his evil while very few Protestant leaders opposed him.

If you are a Christian and are convinced by YBD's 
and/or the higher critical school argument for the
removal of credibility from the New Testament, I urge you to at
least stop proclaiming yourself Christian until you do some very 
deep thinking and praying on the matter.  I would shudder at re-
commending anyone renounce the Lord, but if you examine yourself
and find that you do not believe the 5 fundamentals of the faith
what are you ?  

This is not meant as a hostile challenge but a serious call to
self examination on the part those Christians on the net who
hold a low view of Scripture.

Remember that the same process that destroyed Protestant Faith 
in Germany has been at work in the U.S.A. most strongly in the 
last sixty years.  Those with a low view of Scripture are in
control of many of our Main Line denominations and I think it
shows by the accommodations we see the Protestant groups make
on important life and death issues like abortion.  I was raised
in a couple of these denominations so I have seen it from the
inside as well.

I hope to follow up with a discussion of the five fundamentals
of Christianity and why the Bible is an essential in this list.


Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb}

lisa@phs.UUCP (Jeff Gillette) (11/16/84)

<>
	<Bob Brown>

> The devastation to the Faith in the Protestant sector of Germany was 
> severe.  Militarism and Anti- Semitism have long standing records in 
> Germany and the consequent devaluation of the Faith by the New Liberalism 
> took away one possible source of opposition to these twin evils. ... 
> Later on the infamous Hitler could spout his foolishness and
> perpetrate his evil while very few Protestant leaders opposed him.

I'm no expert on the history of World War II, but if memory serves me
right, many of the theological leaders of the German Church signed the
Barmen Declaration in May 1934.  This statement, drafted by Karl Barth,
rejected Nazism and called the church back to its Gospel of God's grace
and love.  Those who signed the Declaration (called the "Confessing Church")
included Barth, Rudolf Bultmann, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer (I assume Bob would
include the first two among the "higher critics" of this century).  Most
of the Confessing Church spoke out against Hitler as his diabolical plan
unfolded, and at least Bonhoeffer (among others) wasted away in political 
prisons for their activity in the anti-Hitler resistance.

I do not know if these "higher critics" would have signed their names to
Bob's favorite statement of "fundamentals" or "biblical inspiration", but
it seems to me that by confessing the true gospel of Christianity against 
Hitler and against his persecution of Jews and others, these men and women
proved themselves Christians in the truest sense of the word.

	Jeff Gillette		...!duke!phs!lisa
	The Divinity School
	Duke University