Module 1: Lesson Three - Historical Criticism

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of historical criticism?

The chronological order of historical events

The origins and circumstances of historical texts (correct)

The personal opinions of historical authors

The aesthetic qualities of historical texts

Why is it important to check the authenticity of historical texts?

To avoid wasting effort, time, and money (correct)

To accept all historical claims as true

To ensure the effectiveness of historical narratives

To determine the popularity of historical events

Which of the following is NOT an objective of this module?

Distinguish the nature of historical criticism

Examine the moral implications of historical events (correct)

Critique the credibility of historical texts

Appreciate the value of authenticity in historical sources

What can be a parallel drawn between online shopping and historical research?

Both require checking for authenticity and credibility (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does examining the underlying circumstances of a historical text benefit a researcher?

It helps to identify potential biases and perspectives (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best summarizes the lesson objectives?

To recognize and value historical sources (A) Signup and view all the answers

What could be a consequence of not critiquing historical texts?

Reliance on potentially inaccurate information (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which activity is suggested to help understand historical authenticity?

Examining the context in which historical texts were written (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary goals of historical criticism?

To discover the original meaning of the text in its historical context (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does external criticism primarily focus on?

Establishing the authenticity of the source (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a method used in external criticism?

Palaeographical examination of manuscripts (D) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does internal criticism evaluate?

The factual accuracy and credibility of the document (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tests would help determine the authenticity of a historical document?

Determining if the document has an anachronistic style (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does provenance refer to in historical criticism?

The originality and history of the source material (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a part of the tests of authenticity in historical criticism?

Evaluating the author's emotional state (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does source criticism analyze in the context of historical criticism?

The sources utilized by biblical authors (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Module 1: Lesson Three - Historical Criticism

Objectives: Students should learn to distinguish historical criticism, critique historical text credibility and authenticity, and appreciate the value of checking credibility and authenticity.

Introduction

This lesson builds on the previous module on historical sources.
It discusses how to assess the credibility of historical sources.

Activity: Authenticity Check

Abigail needs authentic products due to a lockdown.
This is an exercise to learn how to critique information from the internet.
Online shopping can have issues with fake products.
It's important to check for authenticity.

Analysis

Checking products or information from social media is important.
Online information can be unreliable, and proper inspection is crucial.

Historical Criticism - Abstraction

Historical criticism examines the genesis of early texts to understand context.
Two primary goals of historical criticism: discover the initial meaning and reconstruct the historical context surrounding a text.
Two parts of Historical Criticism:
- Provenance/Source: Determining if a source is authentic.
- Higher Criticism: Weighing the testimony of a source to know the truth.

Types of Historical Criticism

External criticism:
- Assesses source authenticity to find forgeries, fabrications or misrepresentations.
- It evaluates through methods like
  - Paleography (deciphering and dating manuscripts)
  - Diplomatics (understanding how a document came to be)

Tests of Authenticity

Determining Authenticity:
- Dates/Time Periods, is a document's date believable in its context?
- Author: Is the author credible? Are their statements consistent?
- Style: Analyze language, writing style, etc. Are those characteristics consistent with the author/time period?
- Anachronisms (things out of time): look for references to people, events, or objects that aren't possible at the date of the document.

Internal Criticism

Determining credibility: Assess the credibility of factual claims and details within a document without checking its authenticity.
Tests of Credibility:
- Author Identification: Who is the author, and what is their reputation/background?
- Date Determination: When was the document written?
- Truthfulness: Is the document consistent with other reliable sources?

Historical Criticism Methodologies

Five methods of historical criticism:
- Source Criticism: Analyse the source material by historians
- Form Criticism: identify an original form or historical context
- Redaction Criticism: examine an author's editing of sources
- Tradition Criticism: trace the development of traditions
- Canonical Criticism: interpret the text through understanding the canon itself

Application

Apply these methods to evaluate the authenticity and credibility of historical sources.
Focus specifically on the first mass event.

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Description

This lesson focuses on historical criticism, teaching students how to assess the credibility and authenticity of historical texts. By engaging in practical activities like authenticity checks, students will learn to identify reliable sources, especially in the context of online information. Understanding the genesis and context of early texts is key to mastering historical analysis.