Arkitech, I believe in God, and think it's great that you are growing in your spirituality to the level where you have become a "seeker." I can certainly understand your misgivings about certain facets of organized religion, and many of them are valid. I am personally of the opinion that God is not keeping score on us, deducting points if worship is not conducted in a certain fashion.
I think it safe to say that most here will be most knowledgeable and conversant about the major various Judeo-Christian belief sets, what another person called the "Abrahamic" religions. Therefore, I will use those for my examples. Even in faiths characterized by common core beliefs, there can be numerous different accepted (and expected) rites of worship, ancilliary beliefs, and degrees of dogmatism. For example, certain branches of Christianity hold to the idea of a strict church hierarchy, others do not.
In my case, i hold to the Methodist denomination, which has been somewhat historically known for its tolerance and acceptance of what others might charitably call non-literal beliefs - or others less charitable might call offbeat, quirky, or perhaps even kooky. John Wesley wrote in The Character of a Methodist these words, "But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think."
There are quite a few other Christian denominations whose adherents believe in a more literal translation. In all cases, however, the differences in structure and methods do not obscure the single defining belief of the Christian faith, that of Jesus being the Messiah, and the ultimate and necessary intermediator between man and God. Non-Christian groups hold still different beliefs; for example, Islam holds Jesus to be a prophet, but not the Messiah, and Muhammed to be the last true Prophet of Allah (God). I personally disagree, but i do not hold my faith to be more true than theirs, at least in their hearts. Man's relationship to God is direct in the Moslem faith, no intercessor is needed. In this, the faith is closer to Judaism than Christianity. But all the "Abrahamic" groups all believe in and worship a common God, although they give Him different names - God, Jehovah, Allah. In all these cases, God is at the head of the church. We may think differently about what is the "proper" way to worship Him, and whether or not certain organized religious groups are more "pure" or Godly than yet others, but the end result ends up equal - all that worship is still going to the same place, to glorify Him, as it should be. All the rest is just details, IMHO.
No matter what wrongs we as fallible human beings might do, whether done in "His name", with or without the tacit permission or endorsement of any organized church; no wrongs any man can commit will ever change what i hold to be an ultimate truth: there is a great, merciful, and perfect God.
I wish you the best of luck in your seeking. No matter what, no matter how hard the struggle might seem to 'find' Him and the righteous path to Him, keep in mind that he has never 'lost' you. You are His child, and forever will be.
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