Look at the definition of religion...you need a god and a set of rules/ laws....Religion is not a chaotic mess that you twist turn, adjust at will...
I think you are misunderstanding Hinduism, The Concepts, Philosophy and Beliefs are rigid and very clear with some minor variations.
But the practices to reach GOD are multiple, this where the chaos exists, each one having their own diety and worshipping the same cosmic soul.
The laws are not brutal but to deter the nature of men to be drawn to sin! It is the basics of ALL religion....When you warn your child not to play with fire, for a curious child that is brutal and controlling but is it not good for him/ her?
The laws are brutal and are from middle ages when humans have no awareness. Today's laws and Judgement gives emphasis on change in the criminal's nature.
Dude a while back you or another one said there is no god so being slaves is too far fetched!!
I have explained it, read it !!
Few q:
1) Question the existence is what leads one to want a religion
2) GOD doesnt play HE tests to show us our powers and weakness...HE doesnt need to see it HE made us! Its like if we invented something we dont need to take it apart to know whats in it...We made it we know it...
3) To reach the absolute path there are rules...You dont go haywire and reach it! Maybe in a million years sadly not everyone touches their 100th birthday to test all the theories...
No one has decoded GOD until now, just obeyed him or explored the truth at their will !!
The Giant particle collider which is experimenting on GOD particle or strings or Cosmic soul if the scientists are successful then we know the cosmic soul (GOD) better only If GOD allows humans to decode him !!
If it is there in every living thing then how can someone murder, rape, rob, cheat and many other crap? Is the divine thing in us that weak? Then how is it divine when the corrupt bit in us is stronger enough in some (and lead to rapes, murders, lying, cheating, stealing)?
The divinity in us is indestructible, pure and unborn, part of the cosmic soul i.e Atman.
But the vessel it is residing (human body, Vedas consider it as a prison for Atman ) is imperfect and is in MAYA (desires, emotions( anger,greed,joy, happiness) etc...etc)
Vedas teach humans to get out of this MAYA, stop feeding the human body to satisfy its desires and emotions and realize that you are the Atman.
The whole MAYA thing (i.e) why GOD has designed and playing is not known, unless we decode or know more about GOD.
Dharmic philosophy says, Realize the Atman and try to get Moksha by getting rid of Samsara cycle(birth,suffering,death), this is what Buddha did, that is making oneself in harmony with the cosmos.
Well 1 thing is this is from Christian point of view....It basically means a humble human being not no dignity that is the thinking of the proud satan not the humble
Yeah ..... humble to the extent, doing insane things and stupid things based on some texts and their misinterpretation.
Dignity in the sense do not be bookish and be rigid but realize and think, and try to evolve not physically but spiritually !!
At least in the Quran it says there are rules when you dont follow you fall into miserable things...sometimes some tests are to test you (how you will react and how much faith you have in your lord to save you) while others are to make you stronger and make you not take things for granted....Apart from that all the good favours are from GOD and if you keep to the right path technically apart from tests no bad should come to you...
Yet Science has not been able to make life out of thin air...even it needs starting materials...There goes Science is soo great! Religion doesnt teach you to stop questioning...People do that! Esp if they dont know the answers they get irritated by continuous questioning!
Dharmic philosophy teaches to question, Abrahamic faiths I find are rigid and bookish.
Regarding following the good path, Hinduism also teaches about the GOD testing humans etc...etc..., every religion does that.
This entire system is designed by GOD and Humans who are spiritual rebels or scientific rebels are trying to decode and get mastery over this system. Progress still needs to be made, check out my lines regarding particle collider, the sooner we get the answers the sooner science can answer "what is life??".
Like Matrix movie , just an analogy !!
Yet no proof of rebirth through science, eh?
Reason why vedas are considered as philosophy not science, some observations are done spiritually thousands of years ago.
Well there is a reason it was thrown to ancient India....and not allowed up front heck some laws (religious) had to be forbidden by the state ...eg. Sati which the state put a ban on not the religion...
Times change systems change and the associated laws change.
Well what is the status of divine for Vedas when humans adjust it and still do as they please? Do you not listen to god? coz the word divine means godly, right? Do you interfere with GOD's saying and make it man made then still want to claim its god's?
Vedas are not adjustable nor changeable , Most of the deity worshippers recite the Vedic mantras But the practices and culture associated with worship differ.