[RobRoy]

The gospels don't match each other either...

Of course, this is what brought one trial attorney to Jesus. He said that whenever you have several witnesses who's testimony are pretty much identical, it means there is collusion. Real, and sincere witnesses will give slightly different testimony but will remain consistent with the key facts.

That is why one of the gospels says that the two men on crosses beside Jesus reviled him, yet another says that one "came to his defense." Yet both may be right, for one can revile one minute and have a change of heart the next.

Of course those who want to condemn the Bible call this an obvious discrepency...

The attorney would have thought that the gospels were "made up" if they matched too closely.

[free_european]

Thats a fair point.

There does seem to be a consistent view in the Bible that the earth is flat, however. Given that the dominant view of men was that the world was flat until quite recently, this doesnt seem too surprising. H

owever, it might be a good reason for not viewing the Bible as word-for-word fact.

[tfecw]

wait...so it's right if the the stories don't match, and wrong if they do?

That lawyer is a dummy and probably isn't worth his salt in the court room. "Obviously your honor, the prosecution's evidence matches too well together and proves without a doubt that my client did. Obviously it's a conspiracy."