Thomas Paine on the Bible

You're correct, but I feel there is a need to elaborate. I've seen a great deal of your work and not only understand your sentiments but symppathize with them as well. The Bible is not the word of God, it was never meant to be. The Bible was meant to be a collection of metaphorical texts and teachings to try and preserve a culture that happened to be unified by a common belief. The Bible as we know it today was not created until the Middle Ages. Beforehand it was more of an nebulous blob of different texts and teachings with varying viewpoints. To have seen it perverted in the way it was does not make religion evil, however. All systems of belief, no matter how pure they believe themselves, are subject to corruption by others to suit their goals. All I ask is that you bear that in mind when attacking my faith.