Welcome mate
Im a bit like you in that a lot of stuff i have heard sounds great , especially when peeps have this way of saying it as an absolute fact. But as a bad ex buddhist i follow the Buddhas teaching not to be a sheep and blindly follow and believe. But to investigate things for myself and find out the truth.
My favourite question for Constables is "Are we policed by consent ?
They usually reply "Yes"
I then ask "so what happens if i dont consent ?
This then leads into Blacks definition of an Act / statute being a legislative rule of society given the force of law by the consent of the governed.
Ive had quite a few conceed i dont really have a choice about joining their society and that therefore we are not born free.