Hey Mike - "religion" is about man reaching out to 'god'. Or about man trying to earn his way to some higher or better place. Or man trying to do the right things, the right way, etc. The entire point of Christianity is that there is no 'work' or 'good deed' or 'right things' a person can do to earn his way to heaven or earn Salvation. The one time event of Christ sacrificing himself is the only 'work' that needs to be done. After that it is up to us to accept his work or regect his work. Anything else is at best fluff. Catholicism has added a lot of 'religion' on to that, as have other off-shoots and even occults like Mormanism, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.
Anyway - i'm sure I'm not making many friends with this post - so I'll bow out now...