To add to Thorne's great post, many of the parables and stories were added to the Bible by monks as late as the dark ages.I understand, but if you examine all of the evidence you might find that that book has been proven to have existed essentially unchanged from a much earlier time than most believe, and is actually pretty reliable as far as things that can be checked.
The powers that were also left out many books (The Gnostic Chronicles) which actually had Jesus saying, (and I am paraphrasing, sorry), "I am god, but you are too."
It was decided to leave out the book that described Jesus as a child was voted out of the bible.
And, to me, when you consider that the books of the New Testament were written 60 years after the events, you have to wonder.
I am sorry but the statement that the Bible has been unchanged for thousands of years just doesn't hold water.
And for the record I am not an Atheist, I have a strong, personal belief in God. But I do not think the Bible is the end-all be-all of religious thought. TO me God speaks to us through many means and many people.
The Bible has many good things in it, but as THorne alluded too, it is way too easy to interpretation. And it seems to me, most organized religions, are based on a few verses and they easily ignore the rest.