Hello Professor: You can't shop for a religion like you would shop for a set of pens. Actually, maybe you can!
What is religion? It is the man's attempt to follow a set of rules and regulations and perhaps in the process live a better life.
For many organized religions death is not the end-if we've been true to the tenets of the faith we hope to pass on to whatever afterlife is promised.
I noticed you were still interested in the Bible. I'm here to tell you, if I may, that the Bible is not about religion. That's only true, however, if you were willing to study the WHOLE bible, not some verses selected by an organization (read cult) to support their false doctrines.
Jesus was not a friend of the organised religion of His day, because He constantly had run-ins with the Pharisees, the religuous leaders. He even called them 'a generation of vipers.' Sounds like an apt description of Watchtower Org to me.
I'm urging you to not give up on the Bible, to read it for yourself. Please do not read the New World Translation, but any of the other versions available at the local bookstore. Start with John's gospel. The Word was God (not a god).
Also, Randy's testimony is inspiring. I don't have the computer smarts to bring up the link. Try www.freeminds.org
Good Luck in your search. I hope you find what you're looking for.
"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near."
Is.55:6