>>> Did that quote come from that bible that we're discussing? You know, the one written by men? ;)
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>>> If so, then once again, it's only as valid as your faith in it. And around we go once more.
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>When I hear that arguement, i.e that the Bible is really not the Word of God, I can't help but feel that many of those who embrace it do so, not out of any sense of truth-seeking, but rather so that they can disregard its claims and abdicate the responsibilities in lays forth.

Well, I can only speak for myself, but frankly, I embrace the argument, not so that I can disregard anything. Heck, I already disregard it anyway. I embrace the argument because I believe the whole concept of God and the bible is mythology. I have never found a reason to feel that current mythology (ie - one god) is any more sensible than ancient mythology (ie - many gods).

I am not 'seeking truth'. I am merely disregarding the mythology.

Certainly, I disregard its claims. As far as abdicating the responsibilities it sets forth, I guess you'd have to explain those to me. So far as I know, I haven't lived my life in conscious contravention of the commandments. I don't steal, I don't kill, I don't lie (not when it matters anyway) etc., etc.

If you're talking about the 'responsibility' of worshipping God, well, ok then, maybe you have a point.

>Of course the Bible was penned by men. But these were men of God who were directed by God to convey their experiences so as to enlighten, warn, and benefit the human race. It's the "warn" part that has people in an uproar. In some explicit cases God said , "Hey Dude, write this down, 'Thus saith the Lord ....'"
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>The Bible makes claims about its authenticity. It is up to each individual how to deal with those claims.

It's still a circular argument. Show me that the bible is the word of God without quoting bible. Like I said, Doyle wrote that the Holmes stories were written by Watson. They weren't. But who knows? Maybe in a thousand years or so, someone will come across the stories and believe they were written by Watson. Will that mean that they were?