Who Wrote The Torah?

I once again have come to find that the answer to what I thought was a hotly debated question is plainly described in today’s very short aliyah. 

Specifically, I’ve heard long debates and discussions about who wrote the Torah. And I suppose that - of course - the answer isn’t as simple as text makes it out to be, but certainly when the Torah states that Moshe wrote it and gave it to the kohanim and the elders - that seems to tell us a lot of what we need to know. 

I just need to express some frustration that once again I am seeing a beautifully simple religion and holy book . . . overly complicated. It’s true that, really, there’s nothing new under the sun since Torah and no one should try and reinvent it just to say that they did something completely new. But I can’t help get the feeling that - much like the common law, my profession - there is a ceaseless need to add layer upon layer of increasingly complex ritual, law, and perspective simply because . . . well, that seems natural, and is “progress.”  

What am I trying to get at?  What I’m trying to get at is the first of the three verses in today’s reading - in which Moshe gives Yehoshua the exact same advice he just gave to the people. One simple, exceedingly simple, set of instructions for both the people and its leader.  As far as we know, one or two sentences at most (here, at least, obviously the entire book of Devarim are beautiful instructions to the nation - but still, the parting words are a few words of encouragement, a few words of faith, and a few words of divine reassurance - and that's it).  Equal from the bottom up.  There is a reason the incoming leader was coached in front of the entire nation - no secrets, no manipulation, and no greater authority could be placed upon Yehoshua than what was done for the remainder of the nation.  And the rest?  Faith and mitzvot.  What could be better than that?

Having been blessed by the rabbis and sages, I really want to make it clear that I am not criticizing them.  One day I truly do hope to learn Shas and there is an infinite amount of depth in the Talmud - as well as any other piece of Jewish writing ever written.  But at the same time, what has made this journey so rewarding is reading it, for myself, mostly without commentary, to discover G-d’s holy message - a message that still pierces the soul and cuts across an eternity.