Not necessarily. The Scriptures do not condemn religion, only those who are hypocritical in living it out:
9 Women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire 10 but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. (James 1:26)
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)
If one adheres to a set of non-worldly revealed beliefs, prays to a deity, and lives a moral life according to the commands and precepts of that deity, one is practicing a religion whether one chooses to call it that or not. I think when people have a dismissive view of "religion" what they really mean is legalism -- following a set of beliefs woodenly and by rote, and without a true relationship with God.
“If one adheres to a set of non-worldly revealed beliefs, prays to a deity, and lives a moral life according to the commands and precepts of that deity, one is practicing a religion whether one chooses to call it that or not.”
Ummmm - if ANYONE could live a moral life according to the commands and precepts of God, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross....
“26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home”
And we know what happened to Sodom....