- The Assumption that Torah is Not Divine
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- Moshe Ben-Chaim
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- Reader: A
person I spoke to suggested that it is clear that something happened
at Har Sinai, for the reasons outlined by the Kuzari. However, he gave
a historical analysis. That is, that the Torah as we have it is really
a compilation of many "stories", with many authors, over a
large period of time. There was an evolution. This person backs up
this claim with proofs from the Torah itself. Namely, that the Torah
has different textual styles
- Mesora: No
rabbi in the gemara, no Rishon or Torah authority ever posed this
possibility. If he learned the Torah for a decade or so, and realized
what depth there is in a book written by God, he would not speak such
casual absurdities, but would humbly seek reasons for different forms
of "text style", as he puts it. People often read the Torah
like any other book. This is only where the gross negligence
begins....
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- Reader:This
person who is a history major at Harvard explains that it is common
for there to be an evolution of ideas over long periods of time, as he
cited many examples. He explained that, for example, within one 100
year decade after Ma'mad har Sinai, the idea could have evolved that 2
million people were there, when really only a few thousand were.
Within the next 100 year decade, people believed that there was a
mountain that people gathered around. Within the next 100 year decade,
people believed that miracles were performed, and so on, and so one,
etc, etc...until what we have as Har Sinai today. He also explained
that with the advent of the printing press, such mistakes are not
likely to be made as easily in the future.
- Mesora: Then
there would be current alternative editions of the Bible with his
suggested editions,...but there is not.
The facts disprove his theory.
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