---WARNING-- HERE GOES THE WIND BAG WITH ANOTHER OF HER OPINIONS!--
The history of man shows us 'man' has, and always will, accomadate himself first. We are a greedy creature and have and will modify our environment to suit our needs, or the "popular" public vote. Yes, this includes changing a/the story to modify our needs as we see fit. The reference to the childrens game of 'phone' is very accurate, and NO, language does not translate well between cultures, let alone personalities. Think you can live by the Bibles laws...DO READ Leviticus, DO REad the old Testament... and good luck with that.
I, as many, have grown up in a very religious environment and have, through the years, attempted to find a so-called "church" worth attending. Alas, there is no such community of worshippers (that I would consider) that DO NOT have their own personal agenda. Not a single group of people take the word for the word. And what exactly is the word? An interpretation by falliable mankind. Broken down in its simplicity it is a set of rules and guidelines interpreted by man, assuming there was an all mighty creator of said rules. It is still, then, poisoned/altered by mankind and his natural act of preservation/selfishness. Holy men are not selfish you say? What then of free will that 'GOD' gave his children? EVERY PERSON has a natural instinct of preservation and conservation and WILL say what need be said or written to ensure their and their species/races own conservation.
The Bible? For how we as a creature treat it, may as well be used as fire starting material, a weapon, a grave...it is no better than the paper it is written on. Take what is written in that revered "document" and use it to grow and be a better being based on past experience(s). DO NOT think you are holy enough, good enough, or religious enough to live whole heartedly by it. You do? Then why does this reply piss you off? Why does this statement coming from some strange person sitting quietly at her computer, raise such a reaction within you? There are too many why's and too many of those why's are answered (attemptedly answered) by the so called person in the know with references to other parts of this book. It is a book written by man, regardless of what any prophet or holy figure may have interpreted in his drunken/high/ or otherwise altered state that gave him the divine vision/dream, or whatever inspired him to write/interpret what was 'given' to him.
Funny thing about this is I know someone will rebute what I have said and consign me to pergatory, like they have the power within them. Just because you believe something, does NOT mean I, my neighbor, or anyone else shall fall subject to your foolishness. Grow up, accept that we as a species are, and will, always serve ourselves! Accept diversity in all its forms, get off your freakin' high horse and get along with mankind...that is what it's all about isn't it?
well.....?