In spite of the problems inherent in the bible as it stands, I would never suggest that it be rewritten to appeal to modern sensibilities. It is an ancient text that has had an abiding influence throughout history since it was first put together. It should be preserved exactly as it is, with all its inconsistencies and its strange mix of morality and brutality in tact. It would not be right to try to iron out the kinks, excise or alter the unpalatable parts.
However, preserving the bible as it is, means that careful interpretation and assessment is required if it is to be used as a source of moral guidance in today’s society. There can be disagreement over which parts are more of historical interest than of relevance to those seeking moral instruction today. Even when there is agreement that a certain part is still relevant, there can be disagreement about the message contained. It is often unclear what is to be considered literally and what metaphorically true. The God of the OT comes across as often angry and vengeful and very different to that of the NT – as puzzling for some Christians as it is for outsiders. Throughout, the behaviour of those portrayed in the bible – even the ‘good guys’ - can sometimes look a bit parochial, if not unfair and prejudiced, from a modern perspective.
All in all, this situation gives gleeful debunkers plenty of scope. (Debunking is easy – no intellectual prowess required!) But aside from making debunking easy, the presence of obscure, ambiguous, or otherwise unedifying material that seems to condone, or at least not condemn, what many now regard as immoral behaviour in amongst indisputably luminous and uplifting passages, makes using the bible as a moral guide rather difficult at times - particularly for the average person in the street with no interest in detailed analysis. (And even those who have studied the bible in depth disagree with each other on meaning!)
With this in mind, I was trying to think of a modern simple secular standard of morality to which the bible might usefully be compared and contrasted, so that a running commentary providing such a comparison could be added to the original text.
The best document for such a task that I could think of is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) - and the attendant human responsibilities implied by the rights listed. The UDHR was put together by a group of people representing most cultures and religions and contains a distillation of the wisdom of the world into a single body of beliefs to provide guidance in action. (Interestingly, in recent times, the UDHR has been criticised by some Muslims for being a secular version of Judeo-Christian morality that breaches Sharia law.)
In the sort of version of the bible I am envisaging, if behaviour or advice in the bible contravenes the UDHR, it would be acknowledged explicitly in an annotation and some historical context or explanation given – just as behaviour or advice that presages a particular article of the UDHR would be highlighted.
Atheists are always going to throw the baby out with the bath water. Why should Christians not save the baby and discard the (murky) bath water by doing their own respectful version of debunking?