Historical criticism analyzes a text in its historical context, using comparable texts to understand how it interacted with its environment. It is contrasted with inferior criticism, which focuses on the meaning of the text. The Bible is often analyzed using historical criticism, generating controversy in some societies. Other religious texts and forms of writing can also be analyzed this way.
Historical criticism is a specific type of literary analysis that examines a text in its entire historical context. This type of analysis is also often called higher criticism. In historical criticism, researchers often consider comparable texts from the same period, using other resources to arrive at a greater understanding of how a specific text interacted with its environment when it was written.
Inferior criticism is often contrasted with historical criticism or higher criticism. According to research experts, the lowest criticism looks at the meaning of the text. Conversely, historical criticism looks more at the environmental factors that influenced writing.
An example of the use of historical types of criticism is in the analysis of that broad category of historical writings commonly referred to as “sacred texts.” This includes analyzing the Bible, a book that informs much of Western civilization in various ways. The use of historical analysis or applied criticism of the Bible has generated a significant amount of controversy in societies that value this book.
Experts point out that universities in Western nations have adopted the practice of using historical criticism to examine the many books of the Bible, which is essentially a compilation of many different texts written at different times. One of the main uses of this type of applied criticism of the Bible is the evaluation of the Synoptic Gospels, four books that share a unique relationship in history. Another important element of biblical historical criticism concerns the Old Testament. Many academics have engaged in researching the different origins of the books that make up this part of the Bible to better understand not only the meanings, but the applied uses of these texts.
In societies where the “layman” often has a passionate relationship with the Bible, it has been controversial to examine the book through historical types of literary criticism. While, as religious experts explain, historical criticism is used in seminaries, it is not popular in nonacademic circles, where many people choose to avoid higher analysis altogether. Some of the results of historical criticism applied to the Bible may eventually be rejected by the majority of a society’s population.
Researchers also apply historical analysis to other types of religiously classified historical writings. For example, the Qumran Scrolls or the Dead Sea Scrolls could also receive this type of analysis. Other sacred texts such as the Koran can also be analyzed in this way. Historical criticism can also apply to historical fiction, ancient documents, and many other forms of writing.
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