Hi Tammy,
If the bible takes us 'so far' and we cannot know what parts are inspired and what parts are 'man inspired' i just can't except anything the book says as true. To have to pick the parts we 'hope' are truth or accurate and then attempt to get some meaning of them proves to me that the bible is not gods written word to mankind, spelling out his past present and future plans for mankind, something it claims to be. That makes the book a lie.
If god knows the hearts of everybody, even the bad people, then how can wanting something like the spirit possibly 'be not good' for us?
I see people not really believing that the bible is the divine inspired word of god, but reading the passages they like (Jesus parts) and base their life and hope on this, that even itself may well be myth and story like the other parts they reject as myth and story.
I could get the same hope from a passage in a Star Wars book and place my faith in that. Perhaps even going so far as to believe i have the force and am a Jedi.... Not making fun of you, but perhaps you can see what i mean?
Yes, i am past 'asking' god for anything. I did that for most of my life and for much of it was very unhappy. Happiness like i have never known has settled on me these days without him.
I know neither of us will convince the other of our point of veiw!
cheers
oz