Aaron

Oh, propaganda. Especially in the NT. Whatever fit the patriarchal attitudes at the time...this is also why certain translations say different things from others. It's alllllllll propaganda from another time.

Who was attempting to falsely inform whom?

What do you think the agenda was of the canon?

Not necessarily falsely inform anyone...but tell them only what's necessary to get them to believe you're the authority and it should stay that way....

...which I think answers both your questions ^.~ But patriarchy plays a large part of it. I mean, why else would Mary Magdalene's gospel be stuffed in a pot in the Middle East, not to be found for 2000 years while she was defamed as a whore?

oh goodness, I'm grateful for Song of Solomon, or somewhere along the lines people would have outlawed sex and romance all together :P

It is good to know that God is pro-sex...and not just for Babies.

I think solomon showed that concept well. God made us with physical characteristics that are purely pleasure based. God doesnt make accidents. And he doesnt make body parts that are evil.

Now if we could only get the church on board with the bible:) ha ha ha

Now if we could only get the church on board with the bible:) ha ha ha

oh, my goodness, yes.

Lol...that is so true!

I haven't read these books like "Jasher" and such.. I have read some of the apocrypha and.. well.. have decided the one's I have read didn't really go well with the Bible..
The books that we don't quite understand the purpose of in the Bible DO have a purpose and I think they were selected because of who wrote them and also the fact that they do not disagree with the rest of the Bible. The point is that these are extremely old texts and that they were written by some great men of God.. All scripture is given by inspiriation of God..
Even though you didn't really ask for this I could tell you some things about those particular books in the Bible that you mentioned concerning the reason behind them..... :o) at least some.
Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, James, and Jude...
Ecclesiastes has a great point that goes with the rest of the Bible also.. it tells us that all the stuff out there is not going to do it and that the whole point of life is to "fear God and keep his commandments" it reestablishes a purpose in life..
Song of Solomon is regarded by the Jewish people as a symbolic book conerning God and Israel.. and as it goes for Christians.. God and the church/Christ and the bride of Christ.. looked at in that light it is full of good things as far as how when she sought him, and found him she clung to him and wouldn't let him go.. and how the small foxes spoil the vine just like the small things get in and mess us up.
James and Jude both say lots of things in each verse... if you lack wisdom, ask of God.. have faith and don't waver.. don't be a double minded man.. be swift to hear and slow to speak.. wrath doesn't work the righteousness of God, God doesn't tempt you.. don't just hear but do.. bridle your tongue.. if you know to do right, and don't do it.. its sin.. submit to God and resist the devil and he'll flee. its full of wonderful things.. Jude encourages us to build up ourselves by praying in the Holy Ghost and to earnestly contend for the faith..
its all got a good purpose.. and it all goes together.. the consistency of the scriptures is important.. and I see consistency in the books that are in it.. one must be so careful about what we would put in the Bible.. if one feels there is a book that probably would be beneficial to the Bible.. then let it be enjoyed outside of the Bible.. there are a lot of God-inspired books out there.. but for the sake of caution and not tampering with something that is already wonderful/perfect as is, let the books be enjoyed as commentary or as a wonderful book.. perhaps I'm missing your whole point.. I do that alot. :o) ;o)

Are you familiar with the canonical process? Are you familiar with the variety of books included in early canons that we dont have any more? And that some of the books we do have...were not in some of the early canons.

I would agree that the apocrypha generally is not canon material. However books like Jasher, Shepard of Hermas, Acts of the Apostles, etc...probably are canon material. Wheras books like Esther, Jude, etc...are in the canon but dont necessarily fit in with the whole of the canon.

The issue is not even really a spiritual one. If your following God in your life and have a relationship with the holy spirit then God will lead you to the material you need and the bible is the best of those.

But from a intellectual point of view...its quite confusing why they chose some and not others...and chose some that are quite different.

Thoughts?

Well, i really value Ecclesiastes...I can totally see the point of it being in the Bible. It really helps people who are feeling kinda 'what's the point of life?' 'why bother with pleasure?' etc. etc. It's really deep, and explores how we can feel like everything's hopeless and meanigless and stuff...but ultimately it comes back to how God makes life worth living. I love it.
Also James has some cracking bits in it - read it again. Like the simple, clear instructions here: (James 5:13-20)

13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

And the rest of it. I think in some ways it's like some of the stuff John wrote, like 1 John. Clear, simple, bold...well, i like it anyway.

Plus - don't Catholics have slightly more books or something? I apologise if misinformed, I've always been to protestant churches etc and I don't know much about Catholicism.

But yeah, interesting thought, this. I admire the way you question things and really think carefully about issues that I would probably just skip over and accept without much thought.
xRx