Word: pentateuch
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Jewish tradition holds that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. Conservative Christians agree. But 19th century Protestant critics emphasized the Pentateuch's diversity rather than its unity. They deemed it a scissors-and-paste job on materials from different centuries by four anonymous authors: the Jahwist ("J"), Elohist ("E"), Priestly writer ("P") and Deuteronomist ("D"). Though traditionalists rejected it, this J.E.P.D. theory hardened into liberal orthodoxy...