I don't think I'm very far off where you're at. To me the fundamentals are rooted in trying to understand how everything (in the most general sense) works...including the self, the environment, other people, time, etc. I do think I'm with you in that it seems many people get too caught up in the provided symbolism versus the underlying message in those hundreds of stories. To a degree, it reminds me of the version of the Art of War (Shangri-la I think) where the original (translated) quote is given, then interpreted by four different people; a military general, a bureaucrat, a more 'joe-schmoe' citizen and a monk. Each quote (akin to stories) is applied differently depending on ones situation in life.

I also think religion is not necessary anymore, there's something much better: science, psychology and philosophy.

This is definitely my approach! While I don't necessarily like to knock those who do believe more of a larger than life human looking being, I definitely have a hard time putting myself in their shoes.