In class, the stories we learned about talk about sex and violence and some sound a lot like pagan myths. how, a friend asks, can anyone ever believe in the bible after taking a course like that

Dear Friend, As you may have figured to an extent, even prior to experiencing such biblical human iniquities during the Old Testament period had reached severities that were extremely displeasing to God. For this ground, God deemed it necessary to come up with a plan of salvation for all mankind in order to draw men to him and let human beings recognize his existence and unfailing affection so that they would have the thought to consider turning away from evil ways by freewill. At this stage, my friend, I hope you realize that the process of saving men and refining them of their imperfections must have been a long and drudging task for God whose love has since understood man’s weak nature.
Imagine how earnest God’s patience was in those times when men were called for a change of heart yet they rather chose to adhere to old wicked ways still. My friend, God is fully aware of every intention, passing thought, and act committed by men heretofore including paganism which was widespread in ancient times, as well as killings, theft, plunder, orgies, and other immoral deeds which were not given detailed account in the Bible. If you read the entire content of the Old Testament text, you would come across events when God spoke directly to religious leaders whom He handpicked himself and human laws rested on unstable grounds so He needed to establish His covenant with the tribes people on a gradual basis through the strengths and gifts of vision bestowed upon their representatives such as in the case of Abraham and Moses.
It even came to a point when incest was permitted as at Lot’s time when Lot’s daughters made love with their father for the sake of fulfilling God’s design of expanding humanity in number. God did not immediately destroy the overly sinful cities Sodom and Gomorrah, holding thoughtful consideration if there ever were at least five righteous people in the place, despite the case of widespread homosexuality and prostitution. Sins of men were so great at the time so on further Bible reading, we would typically encounter God’s wrath being mentioned several times and certain accounts where God sent His angels over a particular region that ought to be blotted out due to deliberate transgressions.
There is no valid reason thus my friend to lose hope and conviction about God’s word for your faith should reveal that it would still hold true in the generations to come. Our in-depth study in class of the nature of sins occurring in the Old Testament age does not have anything to do with the values presented via the Holy Scripture. Though spiritual reader may take varied approach on interpreting the Bible, friend, it would help to keep one’s faith and merely observe God’s work in your life to see how every other written principle and thought converges to that same faith in sacred unity.