[werewulf]

you are right about history and hearsay! sure we write about history today, based on investigations, some valid and some not. but the difference is that you hear people make exact quotes from the bible everyday. how accurate could these statements alledged to be spoken by jesus be, if they were handed down as folklore for hundreds of years before they were written down.
we cant even agree on things that happened in our own lifetimes and they were written at the time of occurance. just think if our forefathers had not kept historical records of the early days of this country and we relied on recollection of the politicians decendants. how accurate would the constitution be?
one of the best sources of statements made by people like thomas jeffereson, was "harpers weekly" magazine, as they actually interviewed him. one of his statements that stuck in my mind, was when jefferson was asked if he believed in the bible. he stated that "if the bible is in fact the word of god, then it is a noble document".
history is perverted in our public schools for political agenda. something that sticks in my mind, was when i visited moscow years ago. i hired an interpreter who was a college graduate. when i visited some WWII memorials, she was not aware that the united states was really involved to any degree in the war. dont think for a moment we arent subjected to propaganda here too.