>I've read some of the Bible (haven't read it cover to cover
>or anything), but I'm not convinced that it is the only
>place to find God's word or learn about Him. I think it is a
>divinely inspired book, but I definitely don't think it's a
>perfect interpretation of God's word - for one thing, the
>only version I can read is the English translation, and it's
>inconceivable to me that this version is the exact same in
>meaning and context as the original versions.

Since you havent read the whole book, how are you convincing yourself this is not the only doctrine that you can learn about the Most High? According to the word of God (Bible), you must labor, study to shew thyself approved unto God. It's a life long process once you start reading it and praying for understanding little by little God will grant you wisdom to understand what he is talking about. Dont worry about the translation, trust me once you start reading it you will catch on and God will direct your path.

>I'm willing to go thru what
>>you call contradiction and the things that dont make sense.
>>There is nothing contradicting about the book, it's like you
>>said, " things dont make sense". They will once you get an
>>understanding.
>
>I have a book that details all the contradictions, and gives
>citations (and I've checked some of them). There's a lot of
>them. I'll pull out some of the more obvious ones when I get
>time.

Please do because most of what people believe to be contraditions are not, you just have to put things together like a puzzle. Here a little there a little.


>But He created everything, so He set these situations up,
>and allows them to happen. And a good, pious Christian woman
>who is attacked in the parking lot of the grocery store did
>not "put herself in any situation" that justified what
>happened. Living a pious Christian life doesn't protect you
>from being robbed/raped/maimed/murdered/etc.
>
>God's way of life dont create these kinds of
>>people.
>>>Quick question for you: If someone you "loved" ( in a true
>>sense) repeatedly disobeyed you, what would you do?
>
>Hard to say. I definitely wouldn't hurt them for disobeying
>me. I don't expect people I love to obey me (unless it's a
>child, which is a totally separate subject). For example, if
>I told my wife we don't need a new car and she goes out and
>buys one anyway, I'd be pretty angry and frustrated, but I
>wouldn't want to hurt her or cause her pain... Give me a
>better example, because I can't really figure out what
>you're getting at here...

What first needs to be understood, is that God did not create evil, we created evil. God gave us law and the consequences for breaking those laws. Also going back to the beginining, Israel (God's chosen nation was suppose to show the world what is the will of God) entered into a convanent with the Most High, that they would keep his commandments and show the world, they failed they were curse and the rest of the world leaned toward their own understanding because they had no examples. Then God sent his "only begotten". I convanent is a promise, a vow that Israel and God made.

So using your same example:

if you and your wife made a convanent/vow not to buy a car and that if she did buy one, she would be punished and all of her decendent would be also. she still went out and brought that car anyway. According to the word, you "must" live up to your vow. This is how seriously God takes vows, this is why he said, dont make them if you cant keep them. So she's punished. God does not choose to punish us he is just keeping his word.

God's way of life is not evil nor does it create evil people. Read the book for yourself and see how his followers are really suppose to conduct themselves.