I mentioned listening to the bible. I'm on book 6. I am obviously not reading it to be saved, just understand, or rather see if I gain a better understanding of the people that tout stuff they supposedly get out of the bible. I'm talking King James version. It will be difficult, because I'm so critical of everything. My wife says I'm negative, I consider it playing devil's advocate. The term is more appropriate here. :)

A side note. I was coming home yesterday and noticed my neighbor from two doors away in front of me. It is hard to miss his big ass truck. Anyway, a State Police vehicle passed us, I think it was a sheriff. The speed zone was 35, we were going close to 40, and the trooper passed us. The neighbor doesn't get out much, he's kinda like the old guy on the block that yells at all the kids in the street. We wave, but he never waves back, although that could be the 'lobotomy for republicans' sticker on my wife's car. So the trooper passes us, and the guy starts flailing his arms and moving his lips, obviously frustrated at the way the cop was breaking the rules. I feel the same way, but I've resigned myself to the fact that they are going to do it, and there is nothing to be done about it without spending a lot of time on a focused awareness campaign, or something of that nature. Something I am not willing to do.

Back to my critique. Like I said, I am through book 5, almost done with 6. Joshua is already dead, but it is the exploits of the people of Israel behind Joshua that interested me. After Joshua took Jerico, because the lord commanded it of course, they went on to take other cities. It was the same, they would announce themselves, saying it is the will of god, then burn the city, kill everybody, and take everything. Well, almost everything. Some things were given as an offering to god. In one case, god even helped by raining down hailstones to help kill some of the inhabitants.

If you know anything about Islam, you know the story of Muhammad. He started preaching in his home town and was sent away. He went to a neighboring city, found a rich woman, started preaching again, and took over a decent following. Then, he went back to his home town and took them by force. That wasn't enough though, he was so pissed he incited his followers to leave nobody untouched, and he set about a campaign of conquest.

Hey, if Joshua can do it, why not Muhammad?