Nothing cleans you put better than a tablespoon of incomprehensible, mind shattering horror in your morning coffee.

1. religion is capable of inventing a god that doesn't exist.
2. Israelites needed a propaganda boost to rebel against Phoenecians, and offshoot religion helps.
3. Elders that went up to the mountaintop with Moses can unanimously be on board with Hasbara to fuel war against Phoenicians. Ends justify the lie.
4. Yaweh becomes supreme god, and Phoenicians deserve death for failing to accept all commandments. Including/especially the very weird idolatry one, that gods would typically accept as narcissistic reverence. Thou shalt kill all heretics.

There's a logical problem to a language-based religion, in that even a literal interpretation is still an interpretation. Your understanding is not infallible, and no one on Earth likely believes The Bible, 100% verbatim, yet many claim to.

If the source material is always fuzzy then who is to say what a real christian is? Who is the authority? What is? The book itself isn't sentient and Jesus isn't here to break any ties.

But then, you'll get people who say they know God, that they talk to God and it would seem as though their belief and participation is, from their perspective, at least, beyond the limitations of the Christian source-code. They allegedly know God via dimensional speed-dial via.... vibes. I don't believe he does, but they do, so, rules of engagement, I temporarily have to believe he does until I'm done speaking to the person with mental health problems.

Living in the American south is like having multiple gears of belief to swap into like a 6-speed transmission based on who you're talking to. Alright, what flavor of kool aid is this person drinking?...

You want it, you've got it : https://www.biblestudytools.com/exodus/20-3-compare.html

All of the translations have something in common... they say have no "other gods". They don't say "there are no other gods"

I think that is just how monotheists prefer to translate it, I believe "before" is more impartial.

There is some, but not the most part :

The Message Bible
3 No other gods, only me.

Knowing which some is the most accurate is a multi millennium debate, with not clear answer. Shall digging in ?

The trinity is a post-biblical reinterpretation, from around 4th century AD.

It's just hard to directly translate accurately from the original Klingon texts.

Another man of class I see. Would you care for a glass of sherry in my reading room? Or perhaps a cold Keystone in my living room? Either way, you are most welcome.