Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-07
CRITICISM CRITICISED.

Bible students will notice, with a
great deal Of satfaction, that the
modern criticism which calls itsei,
higher" Is already on the decline. For
a time It seemed as II 1t would sweep
everything before 1t. reducing the scrip
lures to the level of Greek, or scandl-
navlan mythology edited, very badly,
mostly by unknown persons. But their
bold assertion has been tested and
found TO rest on no solid foundations.
The apostles Of this new gospel have
been found to have very little claim to
the title OF critics"
In Germany the reaction against This
criticism" Is said to be gaining in
force. There eminent scholars are prov
ing that its teachings on important
points are in direct opposition to the
testimony of archaeology. They are
demonstrating that the Jehovah wor'
ship OF the Jews was not. as some Of
the ''critios" maintain, an adaptation Of
the star and moon worship of other
Semitic people.
Higher criticism" claims to be able
to say from the variations in style of
the ancient records that they were or
ignally written by different authors. or
that one compiler, rather, made up his
books and chapters by Joining togeth
er fragments Of different books in his
possession. They claim TO be able 10
designate with accuracy which verse
was written by this author, and wnich
by that, and what Is added by the COM
piler. Now It is evident that such an
undertaking would be almost imp0ssi-
BILE, II the question were 10 dissect
modern literary work written in plain
English and edited by one person, How
much more hazardous must tho task be,
when the question Is OF documents
thousands OF years old and written in
language the peculiarities and deli
cate standings Of which now are, COM
! parativelv speaking. unknown The un-
fairness OF this method has been recoe-
nlzed from the first by some. and II Is
commencing TO be more generally un-
derstood A writer in a German scien-
tihc paper, quoted IN the Literary Di-
gest. oharacterizes this method Of crit
lcism as a dream. He says
THE results of the Wellhausen school
are based on a subjective critical disssc-
ton OF the sources. a method that has
been tried and was discarded by the
Homer philologists Of long ago. II is
plainly 10 be seen that a similar reac-
ton is setting In among the Pentateuch
scholars Of the day, Both the history
of the old Testament text. which we no
longer possess In its older form, and
also the increasing abundance OF ar
theological knowledge Of the ancient
Orient, in which the history OF Israel
lies embedded, teach US most plainly
that the idea that the Old-Testament
sources can be readily dissected as the
Wellhausen school attempt 10 dissect
them Is a dream, and that a building
erected on such a foundation can have
no permanence. The problem con-
corning the character and origin OF Is
raeIs religion Is far from being solved.
and the coming decades win witness a
battle all along the line In this de.
partment The position taken by
hommel ana others In antagonlzing
subjective criticism on the basis OF ar
theological data, is the program Of a
new tendency that aims to a greater
or less extent TO restore the traditional
views Of the Old Testament. and as such
deserves the warmest welcome"
Higher criticism" as such can have
no pormanence. still Il must not be
supposed that II has been without It's
usefulness. The Bible during the ages
has been surrounded by and enveloped
In many erroneous ideas OF man. 1t
needed to pass through a purifying FIRE.
that It's genuine gold might shine forth
In priceless value. Higher criticism"
has furnished such a flame. II can
not fan 20 consume much OF the al.
most idolatrous reverence that has been
accorded the book. Naturally when an
that which can burn in the fre Of critl-
clsmisconsumed, the flames win die out.
But the Scriptures themselves will re-
main, the ever faithful testimony OF
the dealings Of God with His children
In ages that are past. II win testify
10 the present generation OF the truth
that Is eternal and interchangeable. be.
cause proceeding from Him. who lives
Tor ever and ever.