my father once told me it was a sin to read extra-biblical books for information.  I counter with this thot:  I NEVER claim that they are in any way inerrant, or God inspired.  However, they are great sorces of information.  When I am looking for info on customs and times of the jewish people, I refer to history books, the writings of Josephus (Antiquities of the jews), th book Annals of the World, by Ussher, etc.  They do not claim to be God-inspired, either, but for someone SURE and SET in their walk with the Lord, and someone who verifies EVERYTHING against scripture, like the Bereans, they are quite valuable.  I do not look to the bible for historical facts on WW!!, I read the writings of Winston Churchill.  Might they have errors?  Of course!  All human info is prone to error....they key is that I don't elevate them to the level of scripture.  They are simply information.  To say that we shouldn't get any of our information on what was happening in the world at that time, or the lives of various people, or historical records, or plain inspiration would mean that history books, science books, inspirational writings, ect, should be forbidden.  NONE of them are inerrant, like God's word....but many are valuable, and as long as tested against what God says, are a valuable aid in study.  Tracy     tcoltellino@swfla.rrcom