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I was raised liberal Episcopalian (which may seem like a contradiction in terms, but in Salt Lake City, everything that's not Mormon slants left). I had the same confusions and frustrations you had--especially when I read St. Thomas Aquinas.
Ultimately, I conclueded that the "organization" of organized religions is organized to keep power in the hands of the powerful, to keep "the flock" in line, and to glom more people into the "organization". I have yet to meet an organized religion that didn't have those goals.
Now, that doesn't mean you can't hear the underlying philosophy beneath most all religions. Take one of those bibles where everything Jesus uttered is printed in red, and ignore everything that's not that, and you end up with a pretty great template for living your life. The short version is: Be good to people. I don't need priests, preachers, rabbis, or imams to tell me that.
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