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= The History of the Higher Criticism = "The History of the Higher Criticism" is an essay written by Canon Dyson Hague. Published in the first volume of The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth in 1910, the essay serves as both an overview and a critique of High Criticism in Biblical scholarship, particularly theories from secular scholars.

Summary
Hague begins by explaining what is meant by Higher Criticism and Lower Criticism. The Higher (Introduction) form being an examination of the historical origins and authorship of the Bible, as well as literary criticism The Lower (Textual Criticism) is the comparison of the various manuscripts and codices of the text itself, paying attention to differences and correctness in the text. From this point the essay is separated into sections.

Why is Higher Criticism Identified With Unbelief?
Hague claims that popular opinion sees Higher Criticism as synonymous with a disbelief in the divine inspiration of the Bible and a rejection of any supernatural explanation for its contents. His explanation for this perception is that no other field of study requires such faith as Higher Criticism: "For without faith no one can explain the Holy Scriptures, and without scholarship no one can investigate historic origins". He goes on to cite examples of published criticisms that preserve an acknowledgment of the divinity of the scriptures, such as Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scripture by Thomas Hartwell Horne.

Subjective Conclusions
Hague claims that the leaders in the field have derived their theories from their "subjective conclusions". He criticizes the use of the Biblical author's style and literary qualifications in forming conclusions, citing its unreliability. Hague claims that the Bible is unique in literature, and so cannot be approached with the technical and scientific methodology that scholars would use on any other work. In Hague's view, the Bible has nothing to offer to "unbiblical minds"; a correct approach requires the scholar to approach it with reverence and a respect for its spiritual beauty.