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THE BIBLE, THE IIIE BIBLE, THE QUR'AN AND SCIENCE SCIENCE QtrR'AN AND
that prethat aa false idea of false idea of reality reality is is conveyed. conveyed. A A large large number number of of prefaces or introductions introductions to the Bible faces or misrepresent reality to the Bible misrepresent reality in in this way. way. In In the (like caseof were adapted of books that were the case books that adapted several several times (like the the Pentateuch), Pentateueh), it it is is said said that details may eertsin details that certain may have have been been added added later later on. on. A passage of aa A discussion discussion of of an an unimportant unimportant passage book book is is introduced, introduced, but but crucial facts warranting warranting lengthy expocrucial facts expopassed over sitions sitions are are passed in silence. It is distressing to see over in silence. It see such such inaccurate information information on inaccurate on the Bible maintained for mass mass publication. cation. THE TORAH THE TONAII OR PENTATEUCH PENTATEUCH Torah is the Semitic name. n&me. 'Pentateuch', The Greek Greek expression, gives us The expression, which in English gives us 'Pentateuch', designates a& work in five designates five parts; Genesis, Genesis, Exodus, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. These were to form the five primary Deuteronomy. These Numbers and primary elements of the collection collection of thirty-nine thirty-nine volumes elements volumes that that makes makes up Testament. the Old Testament. This group of texts deals with the origins deals with origins of the world up to people into Canaan, entry of the Jewish people the entry Canaan, the land promised after their their exile in Egypt, until the death to them after Esypt, more precisely until Moses. The narration narration of these of Moses. as a gengenthese facts serves serves however as framework for for a description of eral framework of the provisions made made for for the social life life of the Jewish people, religious and social people, hence hence the name name Law or Torah. Law Christianity for Judaism and Christianity for many centuries considered considered that that the author was Moses Moses himself. Perhaps this this affirmation affirmation was basedon the fact that that God God said said to Moses Moses (Exoclus (Exodus 17, "Write based 17, 14) L4):: "write this (thg (the defeat defeat of of Amalek) as as a memorial in in a book", or or again, talking their talking of of the Exodus from from Egypt, Egypt, "Moses wrote wrote down their starting starting places" places" (Numbers 33, 2), 2), and finally "And "And Moses Moses wrote wrote this law" law" (Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 31, 31, g). 9). From From the First First century B.c. B.C. onwards, the theory that onwards, that Moses Moses wrote wrote the pentateuch Pentateuch was upupheld; held; Flavius Josephus Josephus and Philo of of Alexandria Alexandria maintain maintain it. it. Today, Today, this this theory has been been completely completely abandoned; abandoned; everybody everybody is in agreement on this this point. point. The The New New Testament Testament nevertheless nevertheless is in ascribes Letter to to the the ascribes the authorship authorship to to Moses. Moses. paul, Paul, in in his his Letter (10, Romans quoting 5) from Romans (10, from Leviticus, affirms affirms that that .,Moses "Moses writes that the the man man who who practices practices righteousness righteousness which which is is based based writes that on the law . . ." etc. in his his Gospel Gospel (5, (5,46-47), makes Jesus Jesus on the law ..." etc. John, in 46-47), makes