i've always been interested in this topic, mostly because, as i grew older, i could no longer understand the "rules" of religion.
for example, in dante's inferno, there's a section of hell laid out specifically for those born before christ. they couldn't worship him, so they must have been pagans.
that seemed bloody unfair. just a novel, true. but 'twas the result, and source, for many a belief.
other such moments in the bible picture a non-too-happy lord, acting similar to the prankster-like greek gods. for example, later in genesis, one of abraham's stories involves god saying to abe "hey, if y'
really love me ...hmmm... kill your son isaac!"
abraham is like, "well... that sux0rz, but... alright fine." and, right before he slices up his son, god comes back and says "nah, just kidding! psyche!
"
that type of story doesn't seem possible with our modern,
"loving god."
going further, its not clear which stories in the bible are moral lessons or actual events. the story noah's ark sounds as false as can be, and yet there are continual claims that individuals can locate the remains of the ark.
stranger still -- the story of a global flood can be tied to nearly every religion on the planet, appearing in some of the earliest transcribed archives on earth (mesopotamian, i believe). i'd think, if anything, that would lend credence to other religions being "just as valid" as our modern take.
