I appreciate your questions. They are very good. 

Religion is Man's attempt to reach God.

Christianity is God's attempt to reach Man.

Christianity is about a relationship with a true, living person in Jesus Christ. Oh, I love living life knowing that when I die Heaven is where I will spend eternity, but more than that, I love facing what each day gives me knowing that Jesus is beside me, leading me, protecting me, comforting me, strengthening me, correcting me, disciplining me....

If you wanted to find a great moral compass, a great moral foundation to live life, some way set a great moral and physical basis to have successful and pleasant life on Earth, go to the Bible, and don't even think of it as a way to God, just look at it for the common sense that is in it, for the lessons of history that are there, and for its instruction in many things. You will be overwhelmed at its application.

Our imperfect knowledge of the ways of God and even the ways of the world are no match of God's perfect knowledge of everything.

I personally would not have wanted to without my son for 33 years. Much less would I have wanted to see him mocked, beaten, whipped, and executed so cruelly. That is my opinion. 

We have to be careful when "selecting a religion". Most are monotheistic. Believe me, in the teachings of the Bible [for that matter, the teachings of Allah, Buddha, etc.], you will not see any references to those belonging to those other religions being in Heaven. They are exclusive.

Hope to see you in Heaven one day, if not sooner!