The Bible is an historical document.  The miracles and stories in it were witnessed by thousands of people.  Again, when Jesus rose from the dead and spent another 40 days walking around in Galilee before ascending to the Father (also witnessed by onlookers) where were the scoffers then?  If Christianity is a ruse why did the believers suffer and die at the hands of the pagan emperors. 
  1 Tm 3:15 says that the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.  Without a living, breathing entity to safeguard the truth for all generations, what would have been the point?