There are a couple of erroneous comments in your statement. Not everything is made up by mankind. There is historical proof of many of the events and people mentioned in the bible. As far as it not being taken seriously by intelligent people, that statement is so far over the top as to be ridiculous. Examples of intelligent people who took the bible seriously: Abraham Lincoln - President, Martin Luther King - Civil Rights Leader, Blaise Pascal - Mathematician, the list can go on, but you get my point.