The idea that education will lead to a lessening of bigotry is just factually incorrect.
The idea of literalism in the Bible is a very new phenomenon. In many ways, it's a product of the scientific revolution.
Paul's lack of concern with the historical Jesus is not due, as some have argued, to his emphasis on Christological rather than historical concerns. It is due to the simple fact that Paul had no idea who the living Jesus was, nor did he care.