Very fascinating read! But i do get very frustrated with the overt simplicity of these extra-biblical narratives, which paints Orthodox Christians as monolithic bad guys obsessed with suppressing anything that may challenge their held beliefs. You are absolutely right, there is very little we know about the formation of our Cannon (specifically the O.T.), and many Christians do hold very simplistic and non-helpful notions. But I have also been just as annoyed by anti-Christian scholars who will go to pretty incredulous lengths, to make much out of questionable apocryphal texts and work hard at down playing and dismissing the actual cannonical texts. I also know, the vast majority of actual Orthodox and conservative scholars who are part of an institution are very open to examing the evidence and are not as quick to dismiss as often easily assumed. There will alway be maximilistst and minimilists when it comes to studying Biblical history, but it is best to be open about biases, and then look at the evidennce, hopefully as dispasionately as possible, to hopefully make the safest and humblest assertions. I do get really tired of lazy and monolithic criticism of my faith.