In light of these tendencies, we do well to remember how utterly untouched the Bible is by sentimental manipulation of any kind; this has been universally acknowledged by a wide spectrum of unbelieving critics who read it as literature. Beginning with the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, we are given a full picture of human noninnocence. We have seen so many Sunday school pictures of dutiful children in biblical garb that we forget how utterly unblinking the Scriptures are about human nature. Far from being a collection of inspirational stories, the Old Testament is replete with unedifying
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