Well for every verse you can show a loving god I can show two that show a vengeful hateful god that killed people willy nilly. I ask you, who is really evil here? He condemned those who sacrificed babies to "false gods" but then killed every man woman child and infant in whole cities, towns, and sometimes genocide of an entire country.
When I was growing up we were always encouraged to read the bible. We had goals of so many verses, or chapters, etc., so that eventually you would read the entire thing (which I did in whole 7 different times). I always felt funny about this god of love stuff. He saves us by murdering his son? He blasts whole cities because they aren't hospitable to his emmisaries (angels)?
I've always had this image (thank you WTS) of this angry jealous old bearded white god up there on the throne. I just did not identify with him. Still don't.
Still I sucked it up and suppressed those doubts for many years. Personally I think there's as much cognitive dissonence in this belief as there is in JWs belief any day of the week.
Sherry