Book excerpt: For many of us, theology, rather than the Bible itself, comprises our knowledge of God. This knowledge, however, is a gift from the Holy Spirit. In order to find it, we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct us when we read the Bible instead of relying upon theologians interpretations. The Bibles Tare and Blind Spot takes a hard look at the diverse, complex, and sometimes incompatible beliefs of various Christian groups. Author Steven Iruthaya shares how portions of the Church have misrepresented and misapplied the teachings in the Scriptures over the past two thousand years. Through analysis, he contends that religious leaders have agendas that they do not always make clear. Iruthaya raises a number of significant issues that have caused discussions and controversies throughout the history of the church. He briefly explores early, middle, and modern Christianitys doctrines and then focuses on pertinent topics such as the Holy Spirit, the life of Jesus, the Ten Commandments, and more. His conclusions are challenging and, for some, perhaps provocative. An informative treatise on Christianity, The Bibles Tare and Blind Spot calls Christians to challenge their long-held assumptions and, in doing so, find greater faith.