A relationship (hope that word doesn't turn you off) with the One who made you and knows you inside and out is not religion. I left for awhile too. Studied everything I could find, Eastern religions, whatever. He's the one who thumped me on the head. I wasn't interested in "giving up" my miserable out of control life. But, I was desperate. My exact words to Him were "Okay, I'll try this, but don't do anything drastic!" No sooner did the words leave my mouth, he opened my eyes to Him and His presence. I've never been the same and it's all because God grabbed me. It was something no man or religion could ever do. Totally supernatural. But like the Morpheous (sp?) said,"I can only show you the door, you must choose to walk through it".
Pretty far away. I was not in a "fire and brimstone" environment, as it was filled with pretty good, pleasant Christians. It was a personal thing, achieved with introspection and study, including reading the whole Bible (they are somewhat right, it can be a factor in changing your life).
As far as organized religion, don't get me started. I have absolutely no problem with people having personal belief in a deity. If it makes them better and happier people, all the better -- and it can have that effect. I do have problems with organized religion, as it invariably gets dogmatic and corrupted, and all too often likes to exercise its accumulated power.
No, I did not experience that in my Christian days either.
I left for awhile too. Studied everything I could find, Eastern religions, whatever
I've been gone for a very long time now, and there is no sign of me going back. By the time I was studying Eastern religions, and Islam too, it was only for academic interest (I still have a pretty large library of religious books, including Christian apologetics). I never searched for another religion.
I am happy and fulfilled where I am. If the direction you found makes you as happy and fulfilled as you sound, I am honestly glad for you.