church as 12 steps
the program described bellow is something similar to what i am suggesting might of happened to you. just as AA can lead an alchoholic to sobriety, "HA" (Its a bad acronym, but itll have to do) can lead a confuzed and chaotic person down the right path. is that too much to assume?
and are the 12 steps at least somewhat similar to what goes on in the church?, not the details, but the idea, at leas the idea of structured living is similar right?
above anything it is the facts that the 12 steps exist that makes the program work, not the 12 steps in and of themselves. the 12 were chosen for a reason, but if there were to be a 13, saying...shave your head, it would be jsut as effective.
this structure is what does most of the work, adn hence the church may have been your HA.