[IROC]

John - your post is an excellent example of one of the things I have always struggled with. That is - every person seems to make their own decisions as to how to interpret the bible. What works for some people does not work for others and so they interpret or disregard things to suit their needs or particular beliefs.

I see this as a fault. If the bible is truly the inspired word of god, why didn't he write it in such a way to avoid all of this confusion? If the bible is not meant to be interpreted in one, absolutely correct way, it seems that might mean it is intended to be loosely interpreted to fit one's particular beliefs. After all, that is exactly what happens all over the world every day.

If that is the case (as it certainly appears), then where does the interpretation end? Who is the absolute authority on what the bible says? Rhetorical question, I realize...