When one looks at scripture, the word of God as it has been given, translated and interpreted by humans (and for the most part by males), one can see how not only the individual writer, but the peoples and the politics of the historical setting and times, have affected the meaning of the word. We all see through the lens of our particular understanding. We understand through the lens of our education – our culture and our personal, spiritual and life experience. In other words, scripture does not come to us clean, unadulterated and pure. It comes to us filtered through people and cultures. The word chosen to be in the canons and holy books of scripture comes as selected pieces, some of many, hopefully picked for their known veracity, truth and authenticity.

But many such writings were not chosen and therein lies a whole other topic for discussion. This is not to dismiss the voice of God among us. This is not to dismiss the reality of the experience of those who heard the voice and remembered the voice and told of their experience with the voice of God. This is not to dismiss, but rather to remind us all, that the experience did not happen in front of cameras with recorders in place; rather this happened over time in cultures that were based on oral tradition, not written tradition. The Hebrew Bible was held in the mind and heart much longer than the Christian Bible.