If you don’t take God literally, then why should He take your faith on Him literally?
I truly question whether or not you ever read nthe bible through more than once, if you ever truly read it all the way through even once.
The questions you ask are the ones that come from someone who never has
I take God SERIOUSLY. I think the word “literally” is over-used. Some scripture I take literally. the Genealogies of Mary and Joseph would be two examples. Where he was born, his method of death. His resurrection.
I don’t take any of the parables literally. I don’t take the number of times the rooster crows literally. I don’t believe Jesus is literally a lamb.
The new testament is not a book. It is four biographies of the life and times and teachings of Jesus, the son of God, it is a history book (Acts), it is a bunch of letters to individuals and churches with all sorts of text addressing specific issues those people and groups were struggling with, and it is a dream, very much paralleling prophesy from the OT.
It is an excellent source of information to bring us into an understanding of the personality of God. It is very useful in helping us to a stronger and more personal relationship with our creator, and it helps us to learn to deal with our relationships with other people.
Lastly, it helps us to put this age in perspective as it relates to ages to come. i.e. the Millennial age and the age following the GWTJ. I don’t know if there are any ages after that (I assume there are). Sadly, John sealed up what the seven thunders said. We see now as through a glass darkly.