The main problem is that the majority of people,including professing Christians, don't really know what the Bible actually says. ONE of the main problems is that they use very old outdated language (olde english) which has lost it's original meaning. For example, the word meek that was mentioned earlier, does not mean 'week' as some have come to believe, it actually means 'teachable'. The word 'hell' is an old english word meaning in essence 'hole' (they couldn't spell as well as we do), The original Hebrew and Greek meaning was 'grave'- BIG difference from the true terminology. But it suited some to let the belivers think they were going to some eternal damnation if they didn't toe the official line.
Another example, and there are many more, is the use of the word 'soul'. Many think that man has a soul which is eternal. The proper meaning is that man IS a soul, as are the animals. It simply means that ALL living creatures are souls
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that through the centuries, different groups have corrupted the real story and adulterated it with a mix of ancient pagan beliefs and superstitions until it's got to the point now where it sounds like a fairytale. And that's quite understandable.
My best recommendation, only for those who are interested in the research, is to but or google a copy of 'The Message' by Eugene Petersen. He's a language scholar who has translated the Bible into modern terminology. It's written in the way it was actually spoken in it's day. It reads like a novel and is very easy to follow the rhythm and flow of the actual events as they unfolded.
It actually puts one in the time, and gives a far more accurate version of events, much as a reporter 'on the spot' would. And best of all quite a few Christians don't like it because it 'doesn't sound like the old book'
But, as an overrider, it too mistranslates the word grave for 'hell'. But apart from that, if you only read one version of the Bible in your life, I would recommend this one.
