And so were the Qu'ran,the Bhagavad Gita, However, I don't know if openely questioning the validity of these documents is as acceptable or encouraged as the widespread Bible bashing I've seen and heard in the States.

Recently, on this here blog, I was touring the forums and i read a forum title that included the words "angry at the church"...and me, wanting to be helpful to that one.. put my two cents in the discussion. From what I read this person was disappointed, upset, concerned about the issue of the Bible being translated by so many different people over the centuries... what had been removed, what had been kept, and that perhaps the Book that so many have based their lives on may be flawed...

So, in my reading of this fourm post I gained the understanding that the person expressing concern was a minister of the Gospel. I suggested that this person should pray, find understanding, a spiritual mentor, and go and preach the Gospel that they said they were called to preach!

I was then accused of being obtuse and unwilling to accept the reality that the Book that I claim to base my life on is flawed, and that my understanding is therefore flawed.

I find it amazing that such an assumption was made. i don't know the person with the issues about the translations of the Bible, but I'm sure they're not lacking in intelligence.

However I was rather shocked to read that I was considered to be lacking in intelligence for encouraging this person to do what they claim they were called to do! As if my suggestion did not take into account their concerns, that somehow I was clueless to the history of this document that survived countless wars, translations, differences in opinion... and there was a link in this forum that lead to a discussion on the cathoilc church... I admit I lost interest in the discussion from that point on. Back in the day, Martin Luther had issues with the catholic church too... that's how the whole Protestant movement in Christianity was born.

Now instead of ranting and raving over the discrepancies and differences, I am amazed and overwhelmed that so many risked their lives throughout the centuries to spread the Gospel. I enjoy the multiple English translations of this marvellous book. I'd like to remind others that those that walk in faith and power spend a lot of time reading and studying this book, and are not ignorant of issues with translation, history or even the p.o.v. of certain Gospel writers within this amazing book. The truth of God's love shines through this book no matter what translation you read,

What does concern me however, is that for some, the knowledge that this book has had several translations, and some changes that this information is used to try and create an aspect of God that does not exist. That these possible ommisions would sanction behaviors that God would not acknowledge as holy.

Unfortunatley all I can do about that particular issue is pray. And so I will.