I haven't studied many religions in depth, I only recently developed an intense interest in religion (any and all). I can tell you my experience.
I was "saved" (as a christian) when I was seven years old. I never really got into it, and felt terrible about that. I would pray every night for a month or so, because I felt I should, but I'd fizzle out and felt awful about it. I didn't feel comfortable praying, it always felt forced, I didn't feel close to God. I felt better afterwords but probably just because I felt like I was doing something I should be doing. I never really read the bible either, and I felt awful about that too.
I thought I was a terrible christian. but I was raised to believe that people are saved by faith and not by works, and I knew that although it was important to have a close relationship with God, my eternal soul did not depend on it. I took some comfort in that. if I thought about looking into any other religion, or questioned mine at all, it scared me. I thought it was wrong. my mother always told me that we should "keep from all appearences of evil." (that must be in the bible somewhere, I don't know.)
I suffered for years in my religion, with almost constant worry and stress. I'd forget about it for awhile, push it out of my mind, but then I felt guilty about doing that. but just a few months ago, I had a spiritual epiphany. I realized something (within christianity) that made me instantly drop all of my worries and fears. I won't go into detail about it, but basically the epiphany (actually I had another soon after it, that was like the second part) was about open-mindedness. all of my worries and fears were gone in an instant, I felt a deep sense of inner peace. at this point, I believe I was a true, deep christian, one that was very close to God. because my mind wasn't clouded with worries, I began to study other religions. first buddhism, then satanism, and slowly...more and more things in christianity seemed unreasonable to me. more and more things about it seemed ridiculous, unnecessary, even flat out untrue.
I didn't even want to be called a christian anymore, and indeed, I don't consider myself one now. that would probably shock the majority of christians, but I believe that God and the message of Christ are more important than the title "christian" and all of the symbols. I believe christianity has, for the most part, become the opposite of what it should be. and if I disagree with most christians, why would I want to call myself one? but don't get me wrong, I came to my current understanding through christianity, and a certain few bible verses. but most christians are holding onto a set of beliefs and refusing to think them over, and they're hurting themselves, and others. I don't know why.
as for other religions, the only other two I've really looked at, as deeply as one can in just a couple of months, are buddhism and satanism. I like satanism (not LaVeyan satanism), it seems to me to be more what christianity should be (imagine that). I like to consider myself a "Philosophical Satanist", whatever that is. I just saw it somewhere, couldn't find a definition, but it sounds right. I really think buddhism has it right though, and I'm really getting into studying it. it's so much deeper than christianity.
to answer your question, "What does it feel like for a person to go to church and pray?" I never really liked going to church, and still don't. I've started going again recently, but more to influence people there, than to get anything. I've only been a couple weeks now but I'm trying to get the sunday school teacher of my group to start talking about deeper things. I love sunday school, not crazy about the sermon thing. in sunday shcool you are in a group and you have a chance to share your ideas and discuss things with others, in a sermon you just listen to one big message prepared by some guy that may or may not be led by God. and all the standing and sitting, and the songs are terrible (imo)...I've only been to baptist churches though, I went to one methodist and that was horrible. I wouldn't go near a catholic church, they're so ritualistic and rigid.
about praying, like I said I didn't feel close to God in the first several years as a christian, it was awkward and forced. and after the epiphany, I felt so close to God that prayer just seemed unnecessary. it was like I was already praying all the time. I don't bother at all with it now, I know nothing is listening and it doesn't matter. some people will disagree but that is my understanding.
I hope my contribution helps with your questions some. if there's something more you want to ask, please do. like I said, I'm intensely interested in religion. (and I'm going to keep studying all of them all that I can, which I think is something everyone should do, instead of closing themselves up in just one. even if they lean into a certain one, they should still study others, instead of calling them stupid while knowing little about them.)
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