I am quite probably more Biblically literate than the vast majority of Christians out there (though a bit rusty at this point). As I mentioned previously, my father was a theologian and Biblical scholar with degrees from good universities, teaches at seminaries, is an ordained Protestant Reverend, was an Army chaplain, etc. Today he just preaches at a small town church in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say, I have had more exposure to the intricate details of the Bible and Biblical history than most people. I grew up surrounded by copies of the original texts from which the Bible is based (including a great many not included in the standard Bible), written in languages such as ancient Greek and Hebrew (my father is fluent in several Biblical languages and can read the source documents directly).
My point being that I grew up reading the Bible from end-to-end, and with one of the best references on the subject at my beck and call (being the inquisitive kid that I was). There isn't anything there for me that I haven't already found. Perhaps it is because my father also taught me mathematics and logic as a very young child, and I was reading at an adult level by the second grade. And my father loved to have debates myself and my siblings on all manner of topic; you didn't survive in my family without good debate skills. I was a voracious reader, and the Bible, while a rich (if uneven) book of myth and history, did not stand out as being particularly special. My father, with his hobby of mathematics and logic, always insisted on a rational and consistent construction of a position, and always said that I should never believe something was true merely because he stated it. And even now, my father will assert that there is nothing inconsistent or incorrect in my reasoning. (If you are lost at this point epistemologically, see the theologian Bartley's "Retreate to Commitment".) Now that I am older, I realize that my father never really examined his premises as much as I did. Bottom line is that I've been teflon to religion of all types for most of my life even though I was immersed in Christianity from birth. I'm not anti-religion, it just doesn't do anything for me so I ignore it.
Incidentally, there are better tomes than the Bible to live a life by in my opinion, though the Bible certain has a large chunk of wisdom in it (though dubious in a number of places, and occasionally irrelevant). I think my favorite book of proverbs and parables from all times and cultures is Heinlein's "Time Enough For Love".
Because you are the son of a reverend I am sure that you are quite familiar with the scriptural concept of the inspiration of the scriptures by the Holy Spirit.
Over 40 authors who were inspired by the same Holy Spirit wrote the 66 books of the Bible. There is also the scriptural concept that the Holy Spirit only opens the scriptures to those who believe in the Lordship of Christ.
Unfortunately an overly scholarly approach to scripture can be a detriment to ones ability to maintain a perspective on the entirety of scripture. Jesus spent many of His discussions with the Jews of His day criticizing them for focusing to narrowly like a lawyer.
Jesus was not against knowing the scriptures, but warned against over applying the traditions of men, thereby overlooking the personal message God was conveying to the person as an individual. Evangelicals would call it being religious toward God, but not having a personal relationship with God. The difference between the two is enormous!
My prayer for you would be that you took a step of faith and asked Jesus to open your eyes to the truths that He wants to share with you as an individual. Disregard your prior knowledge of the Bible and seek His enlightenment beneath the "...uneven book of myth and history".
My personal testimony is that when I believed that Jesus died for me specifically, He began immediately improving my character and has continued to be faithful in encouraging me to change those destructive areas of my life with His strength.
When I took the step to belief a marked transformation occurred, and a simple reading of history will demonstrate that many very evil people were completely transformed well by belief in Jesus Christ. He is to this day the central figure between peoples of the world. (The United States being the only nation with a large group of Biblically oriented Christians).
1. The Muslims of the world see the United States as a Christian Nation. (Ironically the part of America Religious Muslims despise the most is Anti-Christian Hollywood, and on the opposite spectrum, Christian support for the homeland of the chosen people of the Bible).
2. Europe sees the United States as a backward over moral (especially regarding our impeachment of Clinton) Bible thumpers.
3. The major watershed debates in America are:
a. Abortion
b. Homosexuality
c. Personal responsibility (Gov. welfare, Health Care, Guns, Private property...)
Biblical morality divides the world we live in. The passages of scripture have more relevance today than they have in any time in History!
Try rereading the Bible with an open mind.