Let me start by saying that I am not here to knock your beliefs. I sincerly hope that they offer you guidance, strength and solace when you need them. What I take from the bible is something differant and more of a non-literal view. I have found much good in it myself. (Surprise, I have indeed read it.) I very much believe in such things as in "do unto others...." "let he who is without sin.....". But I still believe that the bible has been changed over the years and that there is much evidence to substantiate that fact. With all that said, I would hope that you read the following with an open mind. not for you to change yours but to hopefully help you understand my perspective a little more.
You ask me to offer proof that the bible has not been changed.
As exhibit "A", I offer the fact that none of the versions I have seen are writtin in ancient sumarian, or greek etc. What early versions out there are bits and pieces from various early translations of multiple books.. This is why there are so many scholars out there debating every aspect of the book trying to piece it together (not so much to decifer it's meaning.)
Exhibit "B", The bible is presently printed in hundreds of languages. To get to the what we have today it has gone through many translations, Greek, Latin, Olde English etc. Each language with it's own variances and nuances that all languages have. Each nuance adding, deleting or changing the content in subtle ways. (you can do a good experiment of this yourself, Go to any translation site ( http://dictionary.reference.com/translate/text.html ) and type in a few sentences. Translate it into another language then cut and paste it back in and translate it back to english. Now compare that one with the original version.) Now imagine that happening with the bible, a very complicated set of books indeed.
Exhibit "C", There is presently 7 differant versions in general use today for english speakers alone. No telling how many actual versions there are in the rest of the world.
Exhibit "D", The early history of most of the books in the bible was handed down orally and were not written down for several hundred years. (One of the reasons we dont's know the exact date of Christ birth.)
Exhibit "E", One it was writtin down, the only ones with access to it were members of the clergy and Kings. All information that the illiterate masses got about the bible was through those condiutes. Don't think for a momment that those in charge were not corruptable.
All of these reasons and more are why I do not take a literal approach to the bible.
A good base discussion of the subject here.....
http://www.oup.co.uk/academic/humanities/religion/obc/bib_schol/
A contradiction here, a contradiction there, pretty soon it starts to add up.....
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/2347/f1.html
And from the University of Calgary.......
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~eslinger/genrels/O.T.CanonVariations.html
Here's a spin on it from the Jahova's Witnesses.....A group that likes to take a literal approach to the subject.
http://hector3000.future.easyspace.com/
One thing is for certain, We are not likely to see eye to eye on the subject. In closing, I dont dislike the bible, I dont dislike christians, heck, I even married one!
Peace to you and yours,
-Spiny