Do you think you'd still be a believer if the bible were more pleasant/accurate?

[abaris]

My initial rejection of Christianity, particularly the literalist Pentecostal variety I was raised in, was entirely based on reading the Bible and realizing what barbarity was actually in it, and how much of it was laid at the feet of God. However, I did not conclude there was no God, only that the Bible could not actually represent an all-loving being; which is still what I thought God was. I was personally incredulous of how the universe could be here without Someone making it happen, and that was a sticking point for me for almost 20 years.

When still being a child, I was compartmentalizing. Evil daddy, nice son. I had no concept of the trinity back then and so I always prayed to Jesus, never to the old guy. The holy spirit didn't play any role at all. When being a teen and all through my twens, I didn't care enough to even reflect on the whole matter. I remember when I final came to the knowledge that I'm indeed an atheist. I was 27 at the time, at a catholic crossroads, deep in the woods, where I used to retreat to when I looked for some quiet time to reflect on certain things in my life.

I looked at all the images and the thought struck that this is too easy and, most of all, not explaining anything. That was the first time when what I knew about science and my concept of religion clashed. The first time both thoughts were actually in my mind simultaneously.