No, King James I (James VI of the Scots throne I believe) was raised Catholic and educated in France and elsewhere but to sit on the throne of England at that time was a heady experience and to keep that head he couldn't stay Catholic. He was then a nominal Protestant. He was also a very wise man, a good leader, excellent at economics and very diplomatic. The people knew where his true religious feelings were and many sympathized with him. As I said, they were very interesting times!

LH, I have often thought of writing about the Gospel according to Dylan. He has many interesting parallels to some biblical accounts. But if you are looking for salvation, I would look beyond Dylan.

Talents were perhaps the largest coins of precioius metal ever made. They were cast as a rectangle with handles at the top for carrying and were about 60 pounds. The Jewish talent ran about 70 pounds. It was portable wealth, but just bearly. A gold talent at today's standard exchange would be well in excess of a million dollars. It is interesting in the parable of the talents that what use they were put is not stated. Usury among the Jews was forbidden by law but was practiced against the gentiles (although this too, was actually forbidden). The servants (slaves "doulos")were expected to get gain or interest on the outlay for their master. Christians often misinterpreted (equivocated or amphibole? not sure which)talent to mean personal gifts or innate abilities from God to win souls into the Kingdom. It worked for all intents and puposes and so often the error was not corrected if known.

Steve, I would take issue with you concerning the wisdom of Mr. Dylan and King James did not "write" the Bible if you had been following closely (Van and SS, both).