I am familliar with the multiple differing account idea. In short, many identical accounts would alude to a conspiracy, whereas as long as the facts are the same it should be believed, no matter how strange the differences might seem. (in a nutshell)
I`ll concede that that this could be the case in a situation of recollection years after the fact. However, I am told (or was told) that these are god`s words told through these people SO: Is it people talking or God talking? Or both?
Obviously the only rationale here is that this is people`s personal accounts that were written. (This may or may not be established, just re-iterating) Even though they apparently channeled the words of God perfectly at other times, in this case God did not bother to correct them when he had their ear, or Jesus, or the Holy Ghost.
Eyewitness accounts of 2000 years dead Middle Eastern people means as much to me as the rantings of an Al-quaida follower, or any other fanatical lunatic that says he knows the "truth".
Every day that goes by on this earth makes me abhor religion and what it has done to humans even more. Religion will end up causing armageddon rather than predicting it. it`s insane.