If I were to design my own universal religion, without any thoughts as to my actual beliefs...hmm...
1. There would be one, universal G-d, who reveals himself (male form used only for convenience) in many ways. To think of this one G-d as being a single unity or as having a variety of different sub-deities or different aspects or forms would be acceptable, whatever he had led each person to believe. People would even be free to see G-d as simply nature, or the natural universe in general. The only absolute creed would be "Love your neighbor as yourself." Honesty would also be highly respected, with a serious lie being one of the worst sins.
2. The most important ritual would be the giving of a specific amount, perhaps a tithe, 10% of all that one is blessed with, to be given into a storehouse, to be cared for by trustworthy people in society, which is to be used to help those who are in need.
Otherwise, rituals would include voluntary "communions with G-d", in which people communed with G-d in different ways (serving food in a soup kitchen, planting trees and helping the environment, silent meditation, reflections on philosophy and words of G-d, and so on).
Also, there would be official rituals marking birth, coming of age, marriage and death.
Monastic communities would be allowed, for those led to do so, for various purposes - to care for the planet, to focus on studying and translating the various words of G-d, to dedicate themselves to science, and so on.
Anyone would be able to be a "Shepherd" or "Shepherdess", as I would call my organized clergy, who would be educated in various philosophies, religions, liberal arts, sciences, mathematics, and so on. There would be no "heresy" except the rejection of the one universal creed, to love your neighbor as yourself.
3. Marriage would be universal, without any restrictions as long as there was consent between two or more sapient beings to marry. A marriage could be contracted by any shepherd, though divorce would be difficult.
4. I would say no universal religious articles, though people are free to use whatever they like as one if they so desire.
5. No explicit dietary restrictions, except those each person decides to follow. Gluttony would be discouraged, i.e., overeating, since the food you've consumed that you didn't need could have been used to feed someone who needed it.
6. Also, critical, though there is no category in OP for it, would be an internal arbitration system, wherein shepherds would act as judges in disputes between religion-members, and, if necessary, a board of shepherds, each of them educated in different areas of ethics, morality and justice, to arbitrate between members, and to grant divorces based on individual situations (i.e., abusive spouse case would be allowed an automatic divorce for the abused, but in most other situations, the marriage being kept together if at all possible would be the goal of the court).
Also, though not necessarily a part of the religion, the traditions of one's ancestors would be important. Jews, for example, would be encouraged to keep the kosher laws and sabbath. Catholics would be encouraged to continue confession, and communion. Of course, not required - never required - but to respect these older traditions would be considered critical.
I need pictures. Currently it's only for entertainment purpose, and pictures I have are all off net, seriously infringing copyright laws.
