I love you, David Plotz

I am becoming irritable with the postman; I should be reading Northrop Frye but it has not been delivered to my patiently waiting hands just yet. I have read up to the Book of Deuteronomy according to Plotz and am, quite frankly, relieved that we have this reading material to go along with the actual Bible I am supposed to read. I am trying to read it. Mostly I have been looking at the cover of my Harper Collins Study Bible and thinking, "Do I really want to start reading this again"? I must, I must, I must...

The biggest challenge for me is going to be separating the Bible from all the religious elements it is attached to. We are supposed to be reading the Bible as a piece of literature separate from the mark it has been given by those around the world who consider themselves 'of the faith'. Religion has always been an area of supreme aggravation for me, and where better to direct that aggravation than at the Bible? In the past, it has always been fun to bring up the Bible in a heated debate with someone 'of the faith' and then point out the many ways in which their religion contradicts the Bible and everything it stands for. After reading a bit of the Bible and some of what David Plotz has to say about it, I think I have been very wrong in my arguments.

I thought the Bible was filled with stories of the good and the kind, forgiveness and acceptance, etc., etc., etc. Boy, I think I just may have been wrong. This quotation from David Plotz stuck out in my mind:
'The Garden of Eden, David and Goliath, Noah's Ark, sure. But the founding fathers of Israel lying, breaching a contract, encouraging pagans to convert to Judaism only in order to cripple them for slaughter, massacring defenseless innocents, enslaving women and children, pillaging and profiteering, and then justifying it all with an appeal to their sister's defiled honor? Not on the syllabus'. (2)
Remind me again why the Bible as a piece of literature has been given the nickname 'The Good Book'? I am certain this does not make any sense right now...

Plotz gives a very specific introduction with helpful hints on how to read his book. To me, 'The Good Book' itself is a helpful hint to reading the Bible and maintaining a sense of humor along the way. I truly believe there will be days when the Bible will lay on my bookshelf, absolutely untouched; other days I will probably be throwing it at the wall. I am not very impressed with my 'oh-so-positive' attitude about the Bible. Like Professor Sexson said, that's my problem. I need an attitude adjustment.