I think we can do better for sources of morality, especially without the judgement, guilt, shame and especially the angry and violent dad he has.
Assuming that there is a God. Morality is (how God wants us to behave). God isn't bound by the same rules.
Even if there is not a God, the dietary restrictions of Othodox Jews were designed to keep them (Jews) safe in a filthy world with diseases and no refrigeration, and to remind them to be humane. Thus, the restrictions not to eat pork nor shellfish kept Jews safe. Pigs are filthy creatures that wallow in mud, eat almost anything, and their physiology is so close to human that they pass diseases on to humans (swine flu). Human meat (they say) tastes like pig meat (our genetics are that close).
I think that it is likely that the story of Passover (April 5 to April 15, this year, but typically March or April) is about Egyptians giving their first born sons dibs on shellfish. But, during a red tide (February to March, and August to September), shellfish are deadly. Jews told the Egyptians to free them from the bondage of slavery or else God will kill their first born sons. Essentially (in my opinion), the Egyptians inadvertently poisoned themselves. This scared Egyptians into freeing Moses and the Jews.
Jews also restrict eating the meat of an animal and drinking the milk of the same animal at the same meal. They feel/felt that it was too cruel.
There are also guidelines to prepare food with sanitary methods (washing hands, not allowing just anyone in a kitchen, and having the entire meal supervised by a Rabbi (trained in food preparation)). One must not mix raw meats with vegetables, etc. The Rabbis were like modern USDA inspectors. Does it matter that Jews felt that some invisible God was forcing them to get food inspections?
The ten commandments were common sense laws. Some communities, today, want to make billboards with the ten commandments on them. They argue that killing is against the law, so by saying "thou shalt not kill" they aren't saying anything that the law doesn't already say. They don't see why they can't advertise God's laws if they are the same as the current laws of mankind/womankind.
It is as if some very wise Jews, in ancient times, studied the causes of illnesses and problems with society, and made it appear that God made the list. I think that we have to admit that at least some of God's laws are just sensible laws that we all should follow.
What could go wrong? Many people don't interpret the bible correctly, or they appoint themselves (or others) to be God's executioners. As a result, some Muslims say that the Ayatollah Khomeni is a good and peaceful man. Yet, Khomeni issued a fatwa (like a Mafia assassination order) to kill all Iranians who were educated in America because they were corrupted. I had been discussing the appointment of Khomeni with Iranian students, and they were releived that Khomeni was returning their nation to the solid and pure and good and clean morality of the bible. Shortly after, they were praying to get rid of Khomeni. Muslims aren't the only ones with ruthless dictators.
We now see Chritianity focusing on Gays. There are so many things to read about in the bible, that they should not restrict Gay marriage (and take away inheritance and child custody, and government benefits of marriage). God didn't tell everyone to do His job of hurting sinners. Only God is the judge (judge not lest ye be judged. . . Jesus, Sermon on the Mount).
The Kooks of the Ku Klux Klan proudly wear crosses, while carrying out the most heinous acts of bigotry, and they think that they are doing God's work.
Nazi Germany started out Christian, and Hitler started out Christian. But, we can see that religions sometimes morph into horrible monsters (making lampshades of human skin, knocking out gold teeth, stealing all possessions, starving, gassing, and making wars against peaceful nations).
We have to be ever-vigilent for morphing religion.
But, the laws of the religion, itself, are usually kind and sensible. The application of those words sometimes doesn't work. Following the 911 attack, Christians knew that they were not supposed to kill, but they felt like sitting ducks who should go after the enemy in his own country, rather than let them carry out more destruction in ours. This led to hasty wars, without an end-game strategy (how do we pull out, and how do we admit that we have not won, and what happens when the occupation of the US enrages the enemy and they gather more members?).
A lot of good people go astray. Senator Joe McCarthy's followers thought that they were eliminating communism, but it soon became apparent that the harsh rule under McCarthy was worse than having a few communists in the US (if they weren't trying to take over the nation). Even actress Lucille Ball almost was wiped out by McCarthy.
Religion should be about being kind to others, not carrying out God's vengeance. God is all-powerful, and can do his own killing. We are supposed to love all of God's children (Gay or not).
