If you want to ignore parts of the Bible you can. That takes the fun out of it. Scholars for over a 1000 years have put alot of effort into figuring out which books are authentic and from God. The rest is up to you. Trust whichever scholars you want, believe whatever your heart tells you to. Be a lot sceptical.
Takes the fun out of it? I love this attitude from a Christian. Meh, whatever, believe whatever you want from it, it's okay.

Who cares that it contradicts itself and per the bible if you don't get things, right you're damned. And yes, much effort was put into which books were what God "really" meant. And the ones that were chosen have no more evidence of that than those which weren't. A lot of useless effort parsing between competing myths doesn't mean that any of them are right.
But if you ask the right questions, you'll find some interesting answers.
oh, the "right" questions. Silly me, I wasn't asking the right questions or completing the right spells to get the "right" answers.

When I was a kid and first realized that not all Pastors and Christians agreed on issues like Baptism, worship, tithes, Catholic doctrine, authority of the Bible etc. I started with a foundation: "I'm going to believe this Bible is true until someone proves it otherwise."
and you've intentionally ignored everything that demonstrates that it is false. 30 years later i'm still convinced its true.[/quote] Yep, I can believe that. Nothing like taking a myth as real, devoting ones self-worth to it and ignoring anything that demonstrates it is wrong. Considering that those pastors do have biblical evidence for their versions of baptism, etc, how did you decide which version was what God "really meant"? Again, you seem to willfully ignore that your bible is contradicatory and innately can't be "true" through out.
And I've read 1000s of claims against the Bible. I've also looked into every contradiction I could get my hands on. I heard both sides of the stories (and sometimes I've heard 10 different sides of the stories). Its most fun when all the atheist scholars can't agree on what opinion is fact - and they start fighting each other.
My, goldie has decided that he knows what the "right" answers are. Funny how all Christians feel that way. And please do show where atheist "scholars" can't agree on what "opinion is fact", whatever that means.
If there's a God he'll give you the info to put the truth together. If there's not? then it'll play itself out in the puzzle pieces. I believe the quest for truth about the Bible is way more freaky than most people could possibly recognise. Anyway...
If there is a god, goldie? You obvious think there is, why the pussyfooting around? IF god will give the truth, who does he give it to? You, as you seem to be indicating? LOL. Again, that's just a Christian attempting to put the blame of not beleing on the human's head, ignoring the lack of evidence for God at all. And "puzzle pieces"? What does that mean? Seems like a wishy-washy Pascal's wager. and oh, the excuse that ooooh, looking for god is magic and special and no one but me can get it right. For a god taht supposedly cares about getting those lost sheep, your god sure does like to play games with humans.
I believe there are NO contradictions in the Bible. I think God made it a little strange at times. It would be boring if he didn't.
I don't really give a crap on what you "beleive". You can't imagine them away, goldie. Amusing to watch you virtually stick your fingers in your ears like a 9 year old. Your "little strange at times" is no different than a universe without a god. Nice excuse though on why your god sure doesn't seem to exist. Why it's just a game to it! Physical laws, evidence, pshaw, why bother when people like you can make baseless claims about god and be ever-so sure you're right.
Hate to upset everyone and their boring view of God but; I don't think he wants everyone to easily find the truth, say the magic words and go to heaven. The Bible is tricky enough to allow an evil heart to run its full course. Its fun watching atheists and Muslim's and other false religions stumble all over this book. Its what keeps me a Christian. And i'm not that smart...
Just cause something isn't simple to understand - does not make it wrong.
And ah, now goldie has the only right view of God and what God is.

Yep, goldie has a pipeline directly to what God thinks and feels. Just like every other Christian. Yep, you think your version of your relgion is the only "true" one and the others are "false" even though you have no more evidence than they. And no you aren't that smart. That's more than obvious and yep, it does probably keep you a Christian, your vain desire to feel superior in that you and only those who agree with you got the "right" answer.
Next question:Women in the Bible.
Women are equal in many areas. Even more equal in some. But God would appreciate it if women would let men be incharge in church. It seems to smooth out a few issues. You can't have two cooks in the kitchen. Someone needs to be incharge. And God would appreciate women being submissive in this area of Worship and teaching. Men have to be submissive in some areas too. Is it really that much to ask? And if they do happen to teach or lead worship: is it the end of the world? NO. Doesn't mean they go straight to hell. Its just a request from God. ITs a deeper issue - but thats the gist of it.
Oh, really? Where in the bible are women "more equal" (all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others - Animal Farm)? And dear, what "issues" are "smoothed out" with women being not in charge in church? why does anyone have to be "in charge" in a church? Where are men submissive in the Bible to women? Hmmm? And god would appreciate? This is great material, goldie, for all of those other Christians who claim that Christians never ever claim to know God. And yes, it is the end of the world if women over step the god rules. We see that again and again in Timothy that it's not "just a request" it's a determination on how things should be. I love how you play make-beleive when your bible is blatantly offensive to modern sensibilities. There goes those fingers in the ears again. Out of curiosity, goldie, what does it take to go to hell in your estimation? Not following the instructions of God? Paul is speaking for God, no one else. Shall we ignore everything in the bible then if it is so haphazard and doesn't really apply?
I'm pretty sure the end of the Book of Revelation was just referring to the content of John's book.Revelation 22:18"I warn everyone who hears the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them...blah blah blah."
So, why should I agree wtih you and not other Christians?
Not all the Bible is a prophecy. Some it is just a record of history and thoughts. So it is most likely only referring to Revelation.
and again that magic decoder ring comes out. All of you Christians with decideing what is and isn't prophecy, what is and isn't literal or metaphor and what is or isn't what God "really" meant.
EDIT: I'd say that you simplh don't care about your quotes. It isn't that hard.
Not magical; just scholastic. Honestly it just seems like the Bible fell into place as a whole. Sure there was a few people with different opinions. but in general most people just agreed and went with it. No huge conspiracy or hidden books. The church organization had very little to gain by the way the Bible came out. If anything it removes the authority of the Bishops and Popes from our lives. (that's why i'm not Catholic.)
Nope, sorry I know better than that. And I'm rather amused that you think you can spew such garbage and it has any chance of being taken seriously. There is nothing to support your ridiculous assertion that the "bible just fell into place". None at all. And there is plenty to oppose it. You are ignorant of the history of your own religion to a pathetic degree.
I've been reading everything i can about the history of the Bible from A.D. 100 to A.D. 400. Its alot less exciting than most people think. A.D. 367 was an interesting year. As was 393 and 397.
Wel, then you've evidently not been able to read much. If you really had read much, you'd not be so stupid to say what you have. Or, if you really have, you must think no one else has and you can lie about it. I've read quite a bit about it. A couple of good sites on it are:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1985/who-wrote-the-bible-part-1 (five parts in total)
I see that GB has one of the wikis but here's another:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorship_of_the_Bible and another good book, even written by a Christian:
http://www.amazon.com/Wrote-Bible-Richard-Elliott-Friedman/dp/0060630353 Let's just take the Council of Nicea. After it, those who disagreed with god created by committed were exiled and excommunicated *and* those disagreeing text were ordered burnt:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea Not the example of a happy friendly bunch of Christians all agreeing on one thing with no problem as you'd try to have people believe. The churchs had everything to gain on how things came out because that would determine who was in charge and who was on the run.