Re: Problems and Contradictions in the Bible

I see your points, Been There and WT, and agree there is little value in instilling doubt for doubt's sake. But to be honest, these are the types of questions I wonder about, too. I HAVE to believe that God loves all equally, and that no one religion/people has carte blanche over heaven or hell. It has been a huge part of who I am since I was a very young child, in spite of my Sunday-school upbringing. When someone poses biblical contradictions, it almost sort of sanctions my views in a way, and I don't mean that in a mean way. It tells me, maybe the bible is not the be-all and end-all word after all, and that there is hope for all good souls to be with God, whether they become Christian or not. In my heart, that is what I believe to be right, and why I find it (so far) impossible to devote to any one religion. While I realize Christianity is a leap of faith one either makes or doesn't, to wonder about biblical contradictions seems natural. On the other hand, in such a grand piece of writing, with so many books and authors, it would not be surprising to find some inconsistencies - that doesn't mean the work is invalid.