Consistency or uniformity of Bible story as evidence of God

[Mijoy2]

If after reading my post someone can find a better word(s) choice for “consistency or uniformity” I’ll try to change the title.

We see many posts regarding the “evidence of God” (or lack there-of). Answers often include Aquinas 5-ways:
the argument from “motion”;
the argument from causation;
the argument from contingency;
the argument from degree;
the argument from final cause or ends (“teleological argument”).

There are other common evidence theories put forth as well.

What I never (or at least seldom) see is the evidence of the consistency of scripture alone as a reasonable theory. I often wonder why not.

I understand the atheist or reluctant believer’s comeback to the scripture theory to potentially be that the bible is a book, written by man, and man, can potentially have simply made-up the -story- (if you will). But my counter to that would be, the bible (or books of the bible), can be demonstrated to have been composed over the course of many many generations of man. Furthermore, the bible (narrative) tells one consistent/uniform story. Given the primitive nature of man’s potential communication (no internet or even public libraries) during the time the composition of the books, how could one narrative be possible? I think any thinking person would regard a conspiracy theory that would require cooperation as an impossibility.

So how else could the -story- (by story I mean the Story of Salvation History - the Bible) have been manufactured if not by the hand of the divine?

Just looking for (name removed by moderator)uts from others who may have pondered this question themselves and/or (name removed by moderator)uts from others who believe they have good reason to refute my proposal.

 

[CRM_Brother]

You have stumbled upon one of the great missteps of ‘modern’ biblical scolarship. In the late 17th, early 18th centuries, some scholars (usually Protestant) began looking at the Bible, not solely as the Divinely inspired Word of God, but as historical literature. In the years since then many of theories and criticisms have trickled down into the more in-depth Catholic study of the Bible. In these theories lie some which propose that whenever a certain Jewish sect came into power, they edited the previous scriptures to fit their stance. Those ‘scholars’ believe that that is the only way such consistency is maintained. They totally forego the possibility that the Holy Spirit is the one to keep the continuity.

Now, some of the professors I have spoke to at my seminaries have said that there is a swelling movement among some Catholic Theologians to combat this Protestant theory which has infiltrated our scriptural studies and promote the theory of continuity through the Holy Spirit. The renewed interest in scriptural studies which have flourished within the Catholic faith in the past thirty to forty years has greatly increased the scrutiny upon many of these theories of biblical criticism.

Honestly, I totally agree with you on the consistance of the bible for over a millenium of writings is proof for not only the existence of God but also that he actively works in the world.

 

[Mijoy2]

Thank you for your response CRM_Brother.

“Now, some of the professors I have spoke to at my seminaries have said that there is a swelling movement among some Catholic Theologians to combat this Protestant theory which has infiltrated our scriptural studies and promote the theory of continuity through the Holy Spirit.”

Might the Dead Sea scrolls help would this movement? And/or other archaeological findings?

If you would happen to know of any published documents/books reflecting Catholic Theologians efforts to advance the effort of promote the theory of continuity through the Holy Spirit, I’d love to pursue them.

 

[Tulitas]

The Dead Sea scroll is more history. They done’t particularly cover matters of faith, nor mention Apostles or Christ.

 

[Mijoy2]

Thanks you Tulitas,

I was referring to potentially using the Dead Sea scrolls to help thwart the theory CRM_Brother discussed regarding the “edited of previous scriptures to fit their stance” concept. I would think the Dead Sea scrolls would help refute this theory assuming the Dead Sea Scrolls can be proven to proceed this potential editing.

Maybe it cannot be proven to proceed the editing.

 

[Tulitas]

I saw one of the DSS framents once…it was a piece pertaining to the instructions for the building of the Temple. Amazingly beautiful and precise script.

 

[CRM_Brother]

I am sorry to say that I don’t have any references to articles on the theory of continuity through the Holy Spirit. Two of my professors, specifically a scholar in Johannine literature and a convert from Judaism who specialized in Catholic theology in light of ancient Jewish theological tradition, seemed to suggest that this movement was primarily based upon making sure students in seminaries understand the spiritual and theological errors which can be made when viewing the Bible as literature is taken too far.

As to he Dead Sea Scrolls, they could be taken as evidence for the theory of continuity via God, but their weight upon the subject could easily be dismissed. The Dead Sea scrolls were collected and written/transcribed by a sect of Jews called the Essenes who differed in many theological oppinions held by the prominent Pharisees and Saducees. If the editing theory is true, then they should show heavy editing to slant them towards the Essene theology, which they do not. A great deal of the scrolls, however, do not exactly fit the timeline of the Essenes, and so wouldn’t necissarily have been edited to fit their doctrine. There are theories that the Essenes collected already existing scrolls, or even that these scrolls didn’t have anything to do with the Essenes. This theory says that the scrolls were saved from the Temple’s libraries after its destruction in 70 AD and hidden in the caves at Qumran as a deception to the Romans (who had already destroyed the settlement) and to preserve the scrolls with the dry climate.