[Tribefan]

Why is it so important that the Bible not have contradictions? Would it truly shake your faith to find out that it does? Why? Wouldn't it only be natural for books written hundreds of years apart for people of different communities and different needs to have major differences? It would be frightening for me to live devoted to a religion that had every question answered, every "t" crossed and every "i" dotted. God knows that we won't change any minds in this forum, but it wouldn't it be nice if we could all stretch our minds and move from the literal translation of every single passage of every single book and understand that the important points are not exactly what happened, down to the smallest detail. Instead, the important part was that God was there.

[exmarine]

Give me an example of a bonafide contradiction.

If you don't know why it is important that the bible not have contradictions, then this may be a waste of time. Do you really want to know why, or is it important that you cling to your opinion regardless of the facts?

[Nyralthotep]

but it wouldn't it be nice if we could all stretch our minds and move from the literal translation of every single passage of every single book and understand that the important points are not exactly what happened, down to the smallest detail.

When I read this kind of statement it reminds me of something the liberals always call for when they want something done their way: 'Bi-partisanship'. What it really means is that you want us to open our minds to accomodate your belief but you will not do likewise.