The distinction between Conservative and Critical in Biblical scholarship is redundant. Scholarship is critical by definition.

Everytime I’m researching on various topics regarding the Bible, I.e Gospel dating and the authenticity of Pauline letters, I always noticed that there is a distinction in opinion between critical scholars and “conservative” scholars. But what is a conservative scholar?

Scholarship within literally any other field I can think of completely lacks this distinction and rightfully so. Even if scholars disagree, by definition they employ the same methods to come to their conclusions. The distinction between conservative and critical in biblical scholarship suggests that the “conservative” scholars aren’t…critical, which if true, should question their voracity as a scholar as a whole and therefore their conclusions.

I admit this is just a hunch, but this category of “conservative scholarship” feels like an apologetic smokescreen to verify dogmas with an academic backing, when in actuality very little academic rigour is taking place at all.