Harry:

May I ask you three quick questions?

1. Even assuming that Jesus was and is the Son of God, what makes you think the Bible is anything more than a human document -- a compilation of the myths and history of the Jewish people, to which has been added several more or less accurate accounts of the life of Jesus and some other material written by early Christians? And even if parts of it were divinely inspired, why does that mean all of it was? What makes some Christians so sure the Bible is intended to be considered literally true? (I ask because I find the idea and the story of Christ far more compelling than the actual texts, which seem to me in places all too human.)

2. I love the idea that God would be willing to sacrifice His only son for the sake of us humans, but I can't understand why He would HAVE to -- why God would be bound by some sort of karmic-type mechanics that require sin to be paid for? If God wishes to forgive us, He ought to be free to do so just like that.

3. What makes many Christians and other people so certain that they are right and everyone else is wrong? People -- even the most wise and virtuous -- tend to follow the faith of their parents, and when they DO convert, it's liable to be to any other faith or none. Is it just me, or do Christians tend to rarely mention Jesus's injunction, "Judge not lest ye be judged"?