We all carry collections of beliefs, and even simple knowledge and understanding, which can contain contradictions.

In certain situations these contradictions emerge as a problem on the way to understanding. The contadictions have to be recognised and reconsiled if we are to gain greater understanding.

I suppose I am assuming that the Bible contains contradictions and that people who accept most of it will have a problem with those contradictions. If some people believe it has none, it is difficult to see how I and they can have much of an exchange. But I want to confront them with this problem because it seems to lie at the heart of the matter.

My particular concern is the rise of 'Creation Science', which isn't science at all. But the attitude of some faith groups towards gay and lesbian people, and some towards black people when this is based in the Bible cannot be resolved with out reference to their fundamental acceptance of that book.