DisEmboDied you should read and watch interviews with Joseph Campbell as a great starting place.  Campbell goes into the mythos behind religion and really figures out what is important and what is not about the stories. I have never been a fan of organized religion. Far too easy to brainwash people into believing and sometimes doing just about anything.  By learning about the common stories that many major religions share it is easier to understand the larger picture and not get caught up in the dogma and bullshit of specific religions.  There is also a good book entitled Myths, heroes, gods and saviors that is also very good at pointing out the common stories of world religions.  Good luck to you, your kids and your dad.