Christianity -- Cult of yaweh?

I was browsing through Borders book shop yesterday, when a book about christianity and its historical roots caught my eye. I perused through its pages briefly and was deeply intrigued. So much so that even though what i read led me to feel a little disg usted, revulsion, i couldt put it down. It referred to Christianity as a cult! It pointed out that not all the 66 books in the bible may be actual factual events.

We all know that the Bible is regarded as the Living Word because no matter how many times u have read it before, it can appear to you in a different way at a different point in your life. Within reason, the same text can be perceived in many ways, all based on the readers personal circumstance. Also, in those days, the text was not regarded as something sacred, and those who recorded it included in their writings their own intepretations. Thus it was inevitable that the same citation of a given text, was intepreted and recorded differently. It soon came to be that Israel and Judah had two very different set of texts of the same belief. The book claims that historically, in the beginning, it was believed that Yaweh, the God of Israel, belonged to a council of other gods who were also in charge of other cities, was under the main god El. That he held heavenly council with the heavenly hosts. Yaweh was potrayed as a warrior god, riding on flaming chariots to fight for Israel. It was only in later years that Yaweh overtook El, and became featured as the sole god. It was this view that Yaweh was a warrior god that led to the people of Israel to seek other gods in time of peace. The cult of Baal, god of fertility, in neighbouring lands thus appealed to the Israelites, and they took it as their own.

In that era, worship and learning of the sacred text could only be done in temples or other designated places of worship. This is mainly due to the scarcity of paper, and news spread mainly by word of mouth. Because of this, when the temple of Yaweh was destroyed twice, many records were either relocated or destroyed. The book also claimed that historians could not find evidence to support the mass deaths and relocation of the entire hebrew community during the Ten plagues. This led the book to speculate that not all the texts in the bible are literal translations, but merely myths or stories to bring across certain points.

I wanted to buy the book and read more, but was reluctant because i was afraid it might be...wrong. It felt like being unfaithful or betrayal to buy a book that dismissed my religion as merely a cult. Sigh, obviously my report on what little i read is incomplete and has many holes where my memory failed me. Also i believe that in the course of their theological studies, pastors have most definitely come across such degrading views or books, and still held on to their faith. Their continued faith and stauchness overshadows my doubts, and i will not forget the miracles God has done in my life despite other books, views, or people that proclaim otherwise during the course of my life.

Bon