Why believe the bible?

[possibletarian]

Why would knowledge of the natural world preclude any belief in the supernatural?

It does not preclude belief in the supernatural, that is not in doubt, nor was it the question. We know people believe in the supernatural, the question is why.

What knowledge did the first century people lack about the natural world that would have made a difference in how the chronicled miracles were seen?

Yes I agree, why believe them though we can see clearly people believe them now, even though they themselves have not witnessed them?

They understood that lame was lame, leprosy was bad, dead was dead, and 5000 people eating 12 loaves and fishes had no naturalistic explanation.

That's what makes them seem so made up, just like all miracles. 

Are you also aware that each miracle had context and a stated purpose that illustrated something. For example. Mark 2:1-12 showed he had the power to forgive sins. 

Again, evidence that they were not real, but stories intended to make a point, or make people believe in someone. 

If you search for Indian guru's you will come across claims that these people carry out miracles along a similar theme, some of them still alive and with eye witness accounts many of whom are still alive.  I assume you reject these miracles out of hand (please correct me if i'm wrong).  Why not research some of them, and see if eye witness account is adequate for you to believe they can indeed do miracles.

If it's not adequate for you now despite the masses of people saying they see miracles, or whatever other supernatural events you care to describe from all religions and creeds, then why believe them in the bible ?

Steve replied
I googled Indian Guru Miracles. The first page of links is not promising. I am not chasing this rabbit for such a weak list of 'miracles' surrounded by controversy. If you want to pick one out to discuss, by all means...

Well of course they are not promising, that's because miracles likely do not really happen, and did not happen. They were made up events as part of a story and or delusion.
I did the same for christian miracles and found a similar weak list.

The question is though, why believe those chronicled in the bible ?
This is what happens when you believe a book is holy, it becomes the claim and evidence all rolled into one.