Check out my "The problem with religion and atheism thread". The bible didn't kill anybody, people did because its in our nature, as much a part of us as the sex drive. Humanity will never get along until they acknowledge that and make a conscious effort to alter our past behavoir.
In response to the question "What is the bible good for?" and arguments over those who have killed in the name of God we often forget the silent majority of those who adher to the various faiths of the world. Christians are people, and have their faults, but for the most part they are good people who are trying to live moral, compassionate lives. Church groups, missionaries, etc. provide a great deal of the charitable work done in this world. It's a shame that most people need a divine commision to help their fellow man, but if that's what it takes its fine with me.
Let us not forget that for most of human history organized religion and polictics were inseparable. This changed with the Bill of Rights and the seperation of church and state in the USA. My point is that religion or God has provided a crafty cover for those wanting to advance their own political interests. IMHO, with the exception of perhaps the Crusades, many of the great atrocities commited in the name of religion would have been commited even in the abscense of religion for strically political reasons.
The bible is an incredibly useful book, as all sacred texts are. Understanding humankinds spiritual musings is key to understanding human motivation as a whole.
Beyond that, the bible is a very valueable historical text.
Why is it more valid than the works of Homer? For one, he wrote hero epics, not religious texts. While the very early Greeks may have regarded those works as authentic accounts, by the time of "classical" Greek culture, especially in Athens, those tales were regarded as we might regard our folk tales, with great interest and love but not with religious faith.
