I have no disrespect for organized religion, but personally, when I feel the need to talk to God, I prefer to go to a local cemetery, read the tombstones for a while, and then find a quiet spot (preferably inside an empty chapel) and pray out loud where nobody can hear me.
I always come out of the cemetery with a great feeling of peace and reverence.
On every sunny morning I go for a run in the woodlands behind my house. A little stream winds through the woods, and there is a wooden bridge over the stream where I stop to look at the astonishing beauty of light through leaves. I pray and thank God for the privilege of living here, and feel all peaceful and reverent. On Sundays I go to a nondenominational church on Sunday where the pastor gives clear direction on how to get closer to God (www.church-redeemer.org).
But a few years ago I had a conversation with a very godly lady who pointed out that religion is not about me and how I feel. It is not about me feeling holy in the woods, it is not about me hearing a strong sermon and feeling inspired. Faith is not a feeling, but a choice, a series of actions we engage no matter how we feel.
The Scripture commands us to worship together, as a group of us worshipping together strengthen and chasten each other, and form us into an army for the work of the Lord. Also, Jesus promised us, "Whenever two or more of you are gathered together in My Name, there I am in the midst of you." You can't get that effect by yourself. In addition, faith is about service, for "Faith without works is dead." That is, we're commanded to actually (as that pastor in this article points out) do some good work for others.
It's not as much fun to paint the church as it is to look at the sunlight sparkling on that stream near my house and feel peaceful. But while both are doubtless pleasing to the Lord, it's not the peaceful holy feelings that build the sort of character He wants us to have. Only time, and the discipline of humble, self-sacrificing work, will do that.
You are describing prayer, not religion.
Prayer is lifting one's heart and mind to God. You can do it in the quiet of your room or a church yard or in nature.
But Christianity is not merely prayer.
Church services too often don't have prayer (which is why many Catholic freepers wish for the quiet Latin Mass to come back). But it IS about ceremony and worship. Christians are part of a family of believers, where we are not the same but we all have our own duties based on our own gifts.
And Christians have a belief that everything we do is a prayer. So washing dishes for love of God can be a powerful prayer. And serving others--especially the poor and children and the sick-- is serving God.
Most religions have all these dimensions, but the stress on which you do is important. Too many Christian churches forget the prayer stuff, so go out and pray (Christ went to the synagogue but said to pray in the quiet of your room). But when you finish praying, remember to listen to God's voice.
People make fun of listening to God's voice, but I always remember the author of "Dom Camillo and his flock" , who said if the readers didn't like the way he wrote about the priest, they could hit him over the head with a crucifix, and if they didn't like the way he wrote about the (communist) mayor, they could hit him over the head with a hammer and sickle. But if they didn't like the way he portrayed Jesus on the cross talking to the prest, they were out of luck because that is how Jesus actually talks with you: Thru your conscience.