Freethought & Rationalism Archive

snapchamp · 03-28-2008, 04:22 PM

The Torah/OT...

I was born into a Jewish family, although I was brought up completely atheist/agnostic. I was asked if I wanted to go to Hebrew school at a young age, and promptly said no.

I just realized I have no idea what the answer to this question is, as I've heard it was first credited to Moses, then it was thought to have been composed by many....

ModernHeretic · 03-28-2008, 04:24 PM

I don't think anyone actually knows who wrote it, although it almost certainly wasn't written by Moses. Google "The Age of Reason" if you'd like to know why not.

Also, this is probably a good question for BC&H.

arnoldo · 03-28-2008, 04:35 PM

God himself literally wrote the ten commandments (if you find the ark of the covenant the ten commandments are contained within it). As far as the rest of the Torah is concerned Moses wrote what was spoken to him by the I AM. Without question Israel would not exist this very moment if the Torah had not been written.

William · 03-28-2008, 04:46 PM

I think this may be a better fit over in BC&H.
cheers!
~W

Toto · 03-28-2008, 04:57 PM

Age of Reason

arnoldo is a few centuries behind the time:

Quote:

When Moses told the children of Israel that he received the two tables of the commandments from the hand of God, they were not obliged to believe him, because they had no other authority for it than his telling them so; and I have no other authority for it than some historian telling me so, the commandments carrying no internal evidence of divinity with them. They contain some good moral precepts such as any man qualified to be a lawgiver or a legislator could produce himself, without having recourse to supernatural intervention. [NOTE: It is, however, necessary to except the declamation which says that God 'visits the sins of the fathers upon the children'. This is contrary to every principle of moral justice.--Author.]

When I am told that the Koran was written in Heaven, and brought to Mahomet by an angel, the account comes to near the same kind of hearsay evidence and second hand authority as the former. I did not see the angel myself, and therefore I have a right not to believe it.

thentian · 03-28-2008, 05:09 PM

Here is a liberal theology site that seems to have some answers:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_tora1.htm

Chaim Potok wrote a novel called In the Beginning that I think you might find interesting if it is still available.

Cheers!

John Kesler · 03-28-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snapchamp

The Torah/OT...

First of all, "Torah" and "OT," the latter of which I assume you intend as an abbreviation for Old Testament, are not the same thing. The Torah is the first five books of the OT/Hebrew Bible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snapchamp

...I just realized I have no idea what the answer to this question is, as I've heard it was first credited to Moses, then it was thought to have been composed by many....

For an easy-to-read tutorial on this issue, click here. After you read each page, click on the arrow to advance to the next page. You may also find of interest this thread titled "Documentary Hypothesis Dying?"

thentian · 03-28-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thentian

Here is a liberal theology site that seems to have some answers:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_tora1.htm

Chaim Potok wrote a novel called In the Beginning that I think you might find interesting if it is still available.

Cheers!

Oops! Sorry, the book I meant to recommend is The Promise! :redface:

It is about a jewish boy who is studying to become a rabbi. Meanwhile his father is doing textual criticism of the Torah...

I read the whole series many years ago and was fascinated by the depiction of the jewish community in Brooklyn around WW2, even though I'm not jewish myself.

Cheers!

HaRaAYaH · 03-28-2008, 08:51 PM

Torah is an all encompassing term. It means all of Jewish wisdom over the ages. "The" Torah is the first five books of the bible.

The Torah was handed down from generation to generation orally until it was written down some time later.

From an Orthodox Perspective:

Quote:

Moses received Torah from Sinai, and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the Elders, the Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly.

The verse starts by indicating that the authority of the Torah reflects the Torah as a constitution and a teaching given by God, whose interpretation and implementation was transmitted to the greatest of all Jewish leaders, Moses, and from him to successive generations of leaders responsible for its interpretation and application, ultimately reaching the hands of the Anshe Knesset Hagedolah, the assembly which Ezra led, the sages who were to compose the Mishnah.
For an easy explanation watch this video from about 3:50 to 6:00 minutes.

Newton's Cat · 03-28-2008, 10:18 PM

Ezra.

After their return from captivity the Jews splintered into a variety of sects.

Ezra gathered together the various sacred texts and created the Pentateuch.

He then imposed it on the populace.

It seems to me that Ezra was the primary "editor" of the Pentateuch.

One could say he wrote the Bible.

03-28-2008, 04:22 PM	#1
snapchamp Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 416	Who is credited for authoring the Torah? The Torah/OT... I was born into a Jewish family, although I was brought up completely atheist/agnostic. I was asked if I wanted to go to Hebrew school at a young age, and promptly said no. I just realized I have no idea what the answer to this question is, as I've heard it was first credited to Moses, then it was thought to have been composed by many....

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03-28-2008, 04:24 PM	#2
ModernHeretic Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 357	I don't think anyone actually knows who wrote it, although it almost certainly wasn't written by Moses. Google "The Age of Reason" if you'd like to know why not. Also, this is probably a good question for BC&H.

03-28-2008, 04:35 PM	#3
arnoldo Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Latin America Posts: 4,066	God himself literally wrote the ten commandments (if you find the ark of the covenant the ten commandments are contained within it). As far as the rest of the Torah is concerned Moses wrote what was spoken to him by the I AM. Without question Israel would not exist this very moment if the Torah had not been written.

03-28-2008, 04:46 PM	#4
William Moderator - NAR Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Japan Posts: 2,312	I think this may be a better fit over in BC&H. cheers! ~W

03-28-2008, 05:09 PM	#6
thentian Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 694	Here is a liberal theology site that seems to have some answers: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_tora1.htm Chaim Potok wrote a novel called In the Beginning that I think you might find interesting if it is still available. Cheers!

03-28-2008, 10:18 PM	#10
Newton's Cat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,181	Ezra. After their return from captivity the Jews splintered into a variety of sects. Ezra gathered together the various sacred texts and created the Pentateuch. He then imposed it on the populace. It seems to me that Ezra was the primary "editor" of the Pentateuch. One could say he wrote the Bible.

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