I'm not really worried about somebody demanding I believe in some god. That's not realistic, I just don't see it as happening. Western society and our laws and freedoms won't allow for it.
They won't? One only need to look at what is happening with Arizona having the audacity to enforce already existing law to know this is bogus rationalization.
The issue is how this stuff influences people. That's always been my problem with it. What it does to peoples minds and how that in turn affects the decisions they make and conclusions they come to, and how. Can you really blame me for questioning the system that's essentially shaped our culture and just about everything we know on a day to day basis?
On the contrary, I don't blame you for questioning so much as not embarking upon the right line of questioning. You have conformed your opinion of the average believer to be that of an insane person in clinical terms...such absurdity, but not at all uncommon. "Religion" or thereof "lack of" will provide for one a complete oblivion, and even at times a deviant abstract, while there are the opposed who will naturally and honestly perceive natural occurrences. It's all about balance and the ability to be resourceful in perceiving contrast. This has nothing to do with quotient in intelligence, as measured by man "naturally."
What has "shaped our system as you know it" Padawan is the innate desire of man to be his own ruler.....to the point of self-destruction and even worse, the destruction of peace on any realm of remote possibility. Take away the history of religion and very little changes. Resorting to a blame game serves as no value in ascertaining peace.
If they weren't perfect, why would God choose them? If I could come up with more moral commandments for humanity myself, what does that say about God? And as you said yourself, a few of them are a little redundant.
The Bible, with all of its fallacies, puts forth a history of events as proclaimed by men, yes....men, who claim to have been touched by the word of God. Many had wonderful intentions, but because they were also touched by the competitor, the true essence was often thwarted. Even the Bible proclaims this as so. Place a group of any individuals in ANY day and age and this will ALWAYS be the case.
It's always bothered me and interested me in a weird kind of way how organized religions keep people in line and under control. The tactics used, the fear tactics and subconscious psychological influences. I see people quote Bible verses all the time, a pastor friend on Facebook particularly, whose always quoting verses to justify why we shouldn't vote for the Democrat, or why homosexuals are immoral, all kinds of stuff. He'll give some story, list the verse, then give his own advice on "what the Christian thing to do" would be.
See, this is kind of funny to me......because on the one hand, I follow your take, yet on the other........I LMAO. I had nothing but nuns for teachers many years. I attended church six out of seven days of the week. A daily course of 'religion' to top it off, and you know......I no more had belief in God than the next. In fact, once I turned 13, I adamantly rejected "the church" and God altogether. I REFUSED to attend church from that day forward!!! It was not until the age of 19 that I was moved to actually QUESTION.
You have to be very careful in making any direct assessment on behalf of God. This is where all too many preachers and clergy members
so miserably fail.
It's a competition between other religions.
It is very much a competition... between Good and Evil. No "religion" is an absolute, yet all are direct comparisons to be ever so carefully observed. There is no way after having taken deep introspection with them all, that any soul, or any scientist, can defy the history that has placed us here with these world events as they now exist. To deny the relevance is arrogant ignorance.
Mankind is belligerent by nature under any label. Why analyze it under the sanctity of religion alone?
Life is as good as you and those around you allow it to be.
---matters not when any single 'supposedly religious person' conveys it has more to do with the spirit and little if anything to do with organized religion. 
....also redundant.
