I don't necessarily dismiss religion completely and finally, I just don't feel any specific religion calling me so far. I was just curious how you feel when you read the OT. I know many Christians struggle with certain things in the bible, the concept of hell and so on. So they don't even try to understand it logically, it must be right because we can't understand God. But then how does a Christian decide which Christian interpretation of the bible is correct, which Christian denomination is the correct one? Is this pope a man of God or does he serve Satan? Do you use logic or is it somehow revealed to you in a mystical way? How was it for you?
Morality seems to change with the times even in the Bible. Thou shalt not kill... exept when God tells you to, so many exemptions as to make this commandment pretty ridiculous, even little children weren't exempt. Adultery was prohibited but you could take the virgins against their will, kill her parents. Muslims say the same thing, it's a religion of peace, killing one man is like killing the whole world according to the Koran. Yeah, but there are exeptions...
You are an exceptional rational thinking person. One of the few on this board. This is a very in-depth topic that you raise and I have to think of a way to answer without writing a book. I will get back to you.
One thing that people need to understand. Whether you believe in God or not, both positions are a matter of faith. I am far more concerned about the existence of God than the varying customs uniques to each culture and religion. Not that it doesn't matter. Because the whole concept of morality depends on the existence of God how a religious person behaves is far more important than what they preach. You can call yourself the religion of peace but if you chop off someone's head for not agreeing with you is a reflection of that religion, unless that religion specifically condemns that act.
When Baruch Goldstein murdered Muslims in Hebron, he was roundly condemned, killed, and the Kach movement led by the Rabbi Meir Kahane, which Goldstein was a follower, was criminalized. When a Palestinian murders Jews their family is rewarded financially and if the murders were particularly gruesome and the body count large, a street will be named after you.
There will always be bad people in any group, society, and country. The measure of their decency is how they react to acts of evil.