Now, the historical information in the Bible starts getting more accurate after the reign of David, although much of the story of David and Solomon seems to be in the language of myth, not history. It goes off into myth again in the stories of Elijah and Elisha. And of course, the stories of Jonah and Job are clearly fictional - with elements of folktales. Jonah and Job are both meant to teach a lesson, not teach history.

Now, don't think it's only religious fundamentalists I abhor - I have similar disdain for antireligious fundamentalists, who interpret the Bible and other sacred writings with the same literalism - and then condemn these sacred writings as absurd. That sort of "I'm the only one who's right" rigidity is poison.

-Joe-