Okay...this is weird!

[FlyingClayDisk]

It is for many of the things that you have experienced, and more so for many of the things that I have experienced, that left me with the same feelings that you have described, that made me revisit the Bible.

When I started my quest, I did not go in as a true believer. I was raised up in the church, and found for me, it was lacking.

It took me a very long time, but I found out what the church was lacking.

I also found that, "In the World in which we live, things are not always what they seem.

Sometimes, the words we hear and see don't mean what they appear to...when what seems right is, in fact, wrong."

Likewise.  You may have noticed (here and elsewhere) I rarely ever use the word "God", instead opting for "Gawd".  This is intentional (very).  You see, and I seldom ever say this either, it's not that I don't believe (in God.  I very much do), I just don't believe in the "Church" of God.  I don't believe in fear...and certainly not as an instrument of obedience, hence my distaste for organized religion(s).

To your point, works like the Bible stand independent from any 'church' (much to their dismay, I'm sure.  Despite their attempts to make things appear otherwise).  If one can read the Bible without being forced to do so through the polarized lens of a church, there can be much to be gained...for all.  But not even the Bible stands alone. 

One of my favorite lines from a movie is from the movie Dogma (of all movies!).  It's the part where Serendipity says..."You people don't celebrate your faith.  You mourn it!" 

I celebrate mine.  The right path isn't discovered through shame and apology.

Indeed, I believe that good comes from within, and that most evil (not all) is an external influence.  I suspect you may have seen your share of exceptions to that rule, but the point remains.  There is no doubt (in my mind anyway) there is a divine component to good.  As a Physicist, even I have to acknowledge there comes a point where the physical and mental construct around us can no longer be explained with a mathematical equation.  To parse that statement down and fully explain it would take more lines of text than this server (or any server) can offer.  But to the point of the OP and the subsequent post, there are two divergent paths, one good and one not.  At present society seems to be drifting towards the wrong path.

I believe in the good, hence the "fire" reference (which, to some I'm sure, seems counter-intuitive).