>Walter, I broadly agree with you but think it is inaccurate to dismiss the Bible as an ancient book. It has stood the test of time, a very long time.

Isn't "a very long time" the substantial part of the definition of "ancient"?

He didn't say "obsolete". That's what I would say, but I'd rather go for "outdated". The wisdom therein is just too deeply rooted in the then society - slavery, regular neighborly warfare, various religions, no corporations, slow communications, no internet, caste system (or rather close to it) - and on top of that most of it is repainted with the sales pitch for the new religion. How much of it would still apply today, how closely does it depict the behavior of the XXI century people? My guess is that most of the still applicable parts would be just those that christianity has ingrained into its members.