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The Authority and Authorship of Scripture

Rabbi Dr. Joel Rembaum and Dr. Reinhard Krauss engage in a public dialogue on the origins and the significance of sacred texts in the Jewish and Christian traditions. Dr. Robert Rothman serves as moderator. The event was organized by the Dawn Unity Group in Palos Verdes, CA.

Moderator:

Robert Rothman, Ph.D. Dawn Unity Group, Palos Verdes

Speakers:

Rabbi Joel Rembaum, Ph.D.
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles

Reinhard Krauss, Ph.D.
Academy for Judaic, Christian, and Islamic Studies

Most religious communities revere certain ancient texts as having special significance. These texts are believed to be of divine origin and to provide guidance for proper faith and practice for believers.

Modern historical methods have shed much light on the origin of these scriptures. The results of this research, based on archaeology, linguistics, and comparative religious studies, are at times at variance with traditional beliefs. 

For some, this raises questions about the continued authority of these texts or even their modern relevance. For others, the response is an outright rejection of secular historical critical research methods as being inappropriate for the sacred scripture of their community. Apart from these important considerations, the Hebrew Scriptures are also a special case since both Jews and Christians consider them to be ‘holy scripture,’ albeit in a significantly different sense.

Join us for this interfaith dialogue to explore these issues and the question of the continuing importance or even centrality of these ancient texts for believers in the 21st century.

Watch the recording: