Thanks to all for the thoughtful posts; this is exactly what I was hoping for. There are so many philosophical questions here, not the least of which is, "do I blindly accept the bible as it's written, or do I use the faculties that God has given me to ask and to search"? If God didn't want me to think and to question, why make it possible for me to do so?
My answer:
Ask, seek, knock.
Put all things to the test; hold fast to that which is good.
Search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so.
Ping or freepmail me any time.