This is one of my favourite passages from Robert Green Ingersoll. It is from an essay entitled "Superstition" and was written in 1887. The following passage speaks to the millions of people who have studied the Bible, and how they differed.

How, I wonder, could an inerrant book, inspired, so we are told, by God himself, have served to make all those opinions reasonable to somebody. It seems passing strange to me that the deity Himself couldn't inspire something that could only be understood as He wanted it to be understood.

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.

Have you read the Book of J? What do you think about the historical editing of such an one book?

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (King James Version)
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Reminds me of a politician who has something for everyone.
All things for all men, to fill the pews, and fill the baskets.

Stuart Shepherd

my grandfather is one of the most Christian people I know...in the best sense of the word...and has this to say about the Bible, when ever someone uses the words "the bible says..." --and at 80+ years, that includes the "young whippersnapper of a preacher they have there in that pulpit"


Basically what the original post said---but much shorter...

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If you fear making anyone mad, then you ultimately probe for the lowest common denominator of human achievement.
---Jimmy Carter