Biblical criticism
| For it is so written in |
| Scriptures |
| Reference |
| Analysis |
Biblical criticism is the scholarly study of the Bible and its formative and supportive writings as historical documents, with the purpose of investigating and analyzing their origins and evolution. Scholars seek to discern their authorship, their intended audience, what influences (both historical and mythological) and circumstances (cultural and environmental) affected them, and what usage(s) or message(s) were intended by the author(s). Biblical criticism also analyzes the text itself, and examines translation issues, what the intent behind specific wordings were, as well as the evolution and integrity of the recorded form of the bible and associated writings.
Biblical criticism utilizes many academic disciplines, including history, mythology, anthropology, linguistics, and archeology.
[edit] See also
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For those of you in the mood, RationalWiki has a fun article about Biblical criticism. |