The secular world likes to think of religion as an undesirable thing. Strictly speaking, from a Christian viewpoint they are not really wrong because Christianity is a faith not a religion. Christianity(grace) is a special calling out faith from within the religion of Judaism(law)—“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Religion involves rituals which are works, Christianity does not. Also see Galatians 2:16.
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth 