Contradictions only make it more believable imo. Detectives often find identical stories suspicious, very suspicious. To them it paints a better picture to hear many accounts that differ in detail depending on the observers view at the time, it helps them investigate quicker but when many hold the same exact observations it creates a degree of suspicious conspiracy...
Now especially in the NT the writers are only reciting what an observer has claimed, same is true in the OT but the NT is very specific and concentrated on the lifeline and ascension of Jesus, but Note that no one had a bible handy at that time... There was no NT bible.. So yes many details differ because memory is flawed and not perfect, it does not change however the outcome which is the most important detail that detectives are most concerned about.
Catholics are right about the understanding that the jist of the story is more important than the scientific aspects of them, we are human and we are not perfect, we hold human error, but it does not stop the overall message that God wants to reveal to us.
Great thread MC, it's time we accept the many contradictions in the Bible for what it is and not just as a book loosely tossed down from Heaven from God like Islam holds to.
The Bible is Truth and thank God for the blessed writers who delivered to us Gods word by His ordnance.
