I am not a pilot and I want to understand why I cannot just land the aircraft when I see the runway is directly in front of me. Why do aircraft have to fly over the runway first then fly parallel to runway and then make turns before finally landing?
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For unmanned airfields so you can visually check for any obstructions on the runway. I have certainly been instructed to fly straight in via ATC in the sim.
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How about international airports like JFK and LAX?
I, for one, would love to see all of the traffic at KORD having to fly over the center of the runways at 1500 ft. and then entering a VFR traffic pattern! 
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I fly with ATC COMMUNICATIONS Set to ON. Landing path appears once I am directly above JFK and that basically means I have to enter VFR Traffic pattern. I have to fly over the airport like JFK and then parallel to runway and then make several turns.
ILS landing seems easier to me.
This is a great article if you want to know how itās done in real life:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/media/09_afh_ch7.pdf
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You donāt always have to. A standard VFR circuit (i.e., an oval around) without going Final will give you a complete view of any obstruction on the runway from various angles.
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In the USA at least, the rectangular traffic pattern is the standard way to approach and land at a non-towered airport. Fewer incidents occur when everyone observes this. A straight-in approach is allowed when no traffic is present or when it is determined safe to do so.
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Trying to fly a straight in approach, when others are flying in the pattern, is highly dangerous.
There have been quite a few accidents/collision, when pilots have tried to fly straight inā¦ so it is NOT the recommenced way to fly into an airport, unless you are being told to do so by ATC who should have radar (or the Tower, who may well have radar, or a slaved radar display from a nearby radar facility)
Classic example of what can go wrong ..
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1500 ft over the runway at 350 knots, left overhead break at 3G, downwind configure for landing, when runway 45 deg behind you turn into final and landā¦ totally normal, donāt you guys do that with your 737 every time? 
Seriously.. There are procedures for circuit/pattern entry but Iāve never heard of flying over it. Iām flying in Europe though, could very well be different in parts of the world where itās normal to land on an abandoned strip in the wild.
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The other day I was in the pattern at KHAF and it was quite busy, at least 2 other aircraft in the pattern with me. Sure enough, some dude on the radio calls for straight inā¦ everyone had to extend their legs and alter the sequence just so he can fly his wayā¦ always ā ā ā ā ā ā me off 
I agree with you, itās dangerous and selfish but happens all the timeā¦
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At an airport like KHAF, with No Tower, it is particularly dangerous & selfish ! !
If it was a locally based aircraft, I would have a word with GRETCHEN about that one !!
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Was the straight-in a VFR or were they on the RNAV? I do straight-ins a lot when Iām shooting approaches. Have to make hybrid calls like āxxx 5 miles SW on the RNAV, straight in Runway 4.ā If you start using straight-up IFR terminology like fix names or āIAF, procedure turn,ā etc, many of the pilots in the pattern wonāt know where you are.
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In this particular instance it was VFR, or at least he didnāt mention he was on an RNAV approach.
Can a Plane Land IFR at a non-towered airport, when there are VFR planes in the pattern ?
Practice ILS or Rnav approaches are OK under VFR, if everyone (including a Tower) now what you are doing, but to fly straight in to a runway, VFR with other VFR planes in a non-towered pattern, borders on āloose your licenseā stupidity.
Iād say if there isnāt much VFR traffic thatās fine and you gotta make frequent calls and state your intentions. Iāve had that situation before and I just extended my downwind and everything was fine. However, if itās busy, I would personally not shoot an IFR approach into a non-towered field in VFR conditions.
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LOL Sounds like a nice Navy Ops pattern. I get to watch the Air Force F35s do their version of this every day. Very cool!
This discussion kinda reminds me of the Trent Palmer case:
The agency argued before an NTSB administrative law judge that the regulation in question establishes a 500-foot ābubbleā around every aircraft, and no pilot may ever legally allow that bubble around the aircraft to include any āperson, vessel, vehicle, or structureā except when actually landing, or taking offāa low approach to visually assess the suitability of a landing area that pierces the bubble is not allowed.
Naval case 1 recovery would be at 800ā wouldnāt it? 
Strange regulation anyway but probably it has a history comparable with forbidden donkeys in the bath tub. But you approach for landing anyway and then go around, donāt you? Assess the area, pff, thatās what these balloon tyres are for 