Not a believer, but you couldn't shake my sister's faith with a, er, really strong shaking thing, and she's had one hard life (now ten years with MS and bedbound for the last six), so I know it can really anchor/change your life. Delighted you were able to climb out of your pit of despair, and as you say, the Church isn't all about Republicans hating gays and muslims. It does get a bad rap (some of which it deserves, in fairness), but at its core the true message is there for all to see, even if a huge percentage of its followers are too blind or too into their own selfish agendas to see it.
Well done, and congrats.
Oh, and ask this guy Jesus to make an introduction thread, willya? What sort of music is he into?
A pleasure, as always, blaro...