Judas,
Good question. I am not sure if this will answer you but here are my opinions.
I have been around lots of "church" people during my life and have acutally attended several types of churches including: Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Protestand, and Jehovah's Witnesses. I also looked briefly into Mormons, and Muslim faiths. And have some close friends in the Jewish faith.
There are literally thousands of different religious books out there interpreting the bible, Koran, etc. so it does get very confusing about what is right, wrong, etc. I actually love studying religion in general and am thinking of going for a degree in this type of area. But here is my observations:
There are a lot of gray areas in all these religions. Usually the ones who claim they have all the truth in their religion or some "special" knowledge that no one else has, are the fanatics. I believe the bible is for Christians, the Koran for Muslims, the Torah for Jews, etc. You have to read it and find your own anwers regardless of which religion you decide to belong to. Each one will have some basic doctrines you have to accept, such as to be a Christians you usually have to believe in Jesus, his death for our sins and his ressurection. The other groups have basic things too. But there is so much gray area that is open to interpretation. And you certainly are free to interpret those areas yourself.
If your religion helps you feel secure, lead a better life, has a good influence on you - then I am happy for you. I think that is all that really matters. No one can really say beyond a doubt that what they believe is any better or more correct than anyone else. We shall all just have to wait and see.
Sometimes humans make things more complicated then they have to be. Most religious people can agree on at least a few things: there is a God, he created all and everyone. I think these are really the only things that matter and we need to realize we are all in the human race on the earth together - all trying to figure things out and live the best life possible. Instead of looking at the things that divide us, like what faith we believe is correct on everything and everyone should join, lets try to view the human race as a brotherhood in itself. And look at the things we have in common with each other and be open minded enough to at least listen respectfully to the other pesons side.
If you are looking for an absolute right answer - or THE right religion, or THE correct way to interpet the bible, I am afraid you will not find it. God knows I have tried for 25 years already to find an absolute answer. And the only thing that happened was a wound up in a cult! Since many areas and words are open to interpretation - you have to read the bible or whatever holy book you believe and decide for yourself what is true. It is that simple.
