I've said this on other Threads, but might as well repeat it here. The bible is a great read. I mean there is a read why it's the number 1 most read book over the world. (Anne Frank's diary is second... I'd be so embarrassed if it were mine!). Like all good literature, it can teach you something about life and give something meaning. It also is a good source of history to look into what would have been seen by history if not for the bible as a small insignificant tribe of nomads who ad a quirky little religion.
But (and this is were I get death threats) the Bible is literature. It's beliefs and stories all were taken from the time the people who wrote them. This makes it good for history, but bad for people who take things so literal. Don't hate me just yet... I mean thing about it soundly. If you were to read in a Greek story based on history... like maybe the Iliad and you read about giants, supermen, talking beasts, enchanted objects, and mythical creatures wouldn't you think these were just fancy flourishes on something that might have happened but didn't really exist? Of course you would. Now remember the Bible was write before and around the same time all these other sources were happening. (Hell, Noah is a story directly from Gilgamesh). I do believe these events happened to the Israelites, but like most literature of the time, were spiced up for a more interesting read. Plus these fantastic stories probably brought more attention to the faith. The concept of heaven and hell was around forever, before Judaism. My thoughts is that maybe they first developed this idea in Egypt.
So when I look at the Bible, I just rule out the Old Testament as something fun to read. There are some nice lessons that can be learned from the outlandish tales, but such lessons are also available in Grimm's Fairy Tales. The New Testament I find more reliable as a source of real information. Also remember the New Testament was written after the classical age, when Rome was in its prime and a new age of reason came over the world. Its also reflected in the Bible. By that time, God is more spiritual than a vengeful figure who smites whole towns for being "evil." Plus the scriptures deal mostly on the spiritual world rather than flavored history.
I don't know much about the Universe, but I do believe in a higher being, and for now i call Him God. The same guy in the Bible. I want to believe Jesus was his son, but mostly I think of him as a prophet who preached peace during a time of occupation and got killed for it (remind you of Ghandi?). But then again, didn't Jesus say that all people of the world were children of God. When he was referring to himself as the son... naw, I'm looking more into that than I should.
Anyhow that's my view on things.
), because it may start to turn into a flame war.. there are many places where you can do this, I don't think this place should be one of them as we should just discuss each religion, and leave the final decision on their own hands. There's many other religions out there, and like I said, if say a Muslim reads this thread, I'm sure he/she will have something to say. 
