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Evolution is not religion, has never been a religion, and never will be a religion. It is a scientific theory, nothing more.

I agree with you that natural selection as a selective breeder within kinds of animals is not religious in nature. Selective breeding is observable, repeatable, falsifiable etc. However, evolution as historical reconstruction is very religious in its nature. It is not observable as we do not know how to build a time machine nor it is repeatable. If one believes in evolution it affects how we view all of the rest of life ethics (ethics must evolve), the religious purpose in life logically becomes man should save himself my directing his own evolution. Evolution provides the philosophical base for all the necessary elements of a religious view.

Evolutionists themselves state that evolution [historical reconstruction] is religious.
As far as the twentieth century is concerned, a leading evolutionist is often considered to be Sir Julian Huxley, a primary architect of modern neo-Darwinism. Huxley called evolution a "Religion Without Revelation" and wrote a book with that title (2nd edition, 1957). In a later book, he said: “Evolution . . . is the most powerful and the most comprehensive idea that has ever arisen on earth.” [Huxley, Julian, Essays of a Humanist (New York: Harper and `Row, 1964) pp. 125, 222.] Later in the book he argued passionately that we must change "our pattern of religious thought from a God-centered to an evolution-centered pattern.” Then he went on to say that: "the God hypothesis . . . is becoming an intellectual and moral burden on our thought." Therefore, he concluded that "we must construct something to take its place."

Evolutionist and senior paleontologist at the British Museum of Natural History, Dr. Colin Patterson: “If we accept [Karl] Popper’s distinction between science and non-science, we must first ask whether the theory of evolution by natural selection is scientific or pseudoscientific (metaphysical) … Taking the first part of the theory, that evolution has occurred, it says that the history of life is a single process of species-splitting and progression. This process must be unique and unrepeatable, like the history of England. This part of the theory is therefore a historical theory, about unique events, and unique events are, by definition, not part of science, for they are unrepeatable and so not subject to test.” [Colin Patterson, Evolution (London: British Museum of Natural History, 1978), pp. 145-146

Evolutionist Harrison Matthews in the Introduction to Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species “The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded on an unproved theory – is it then a science or a faith? Belief in the theory of evolution is thus exactly parallel to belief in special creation – both are concepts which believers know to be true but neither, up to the present, has been capable of proof.” [L. Harrison Matthews in the Introduction to Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species (London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1971)

Evolutionists like to pompously masquerade repeatedly stating like a broken record that is evolution is scientifically and intellectually superior precisely because of its supposed non-religious character. Not so. Religious is exactly the right word to describe it. The philosophy of “matter is all there is” (Carl Sagan) is built on a faith-based premise. Its basic presupposition—a rejection of anything supernatural—requires a leap of faith. All people have a religious worldview--all people have presuppositions about ultimate reality. No one is neutral. Evolutionists openly state their presuppositions starting with the assertion that "Evolution is a fact". Nevermind the fact that no one has ever verified evolution--either abiogenesis or an enough beneficial information generated from random mutations to transition from one kind of animal to another. With religious fervor evolutionists presume that they know the cause of circumstantial evidence before examining it.

“Evolution is a fact, not a theory.” Carl Sagan

“The first point to make about Darwin’s theory is that it is no longer a theory, but a fact…” Julian Huxley

Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory from the very beginning, if only because we have always acknowledged how far we are from completely understanding the mechanisms (theory) by which evolution (fact) occurred. Darwin continually emphasized the difference between his two great and separate accomplishments: establishing the fact of evolution, and proposing a theory - natural selection - to explain the mechanism of evolution. - Stephen J. Gould, "Evolution as Fact and Theory"; Discover, May 1981

…The term theory is no longer appropriate except when referring to the various models that attempt to explain how life evolves... it is important to understand that the current questions about how life evolves in no way implies any disagreement over the fact of evolution. - Neil A. Campbell, Biology 2nd ed., 1990, Benjamin/Cummings, p.434

Professor of Genetics, Dr. Whitten, University of Melbourne: “Biologists are simply naïve when they talk about experiments designed to test the theory of evolution. It is not testable. They may happen to stumble across facts which would seem to conflict with its predictions. These facts will invariably be ignored and their discoverers will undoubtedly be deprived of continuing research grants.” Professor Whitten, 1980 Assembly Week address, University of Melbourne.

Evolution is the central doctrine and provides the foundational basis for the religion of Secular Humanism. Although the religious doctrine of evolution is essential for religion of Secular Humanism, it is not synonymous with Secular Humanism. Although the fundamental doctrine of intelligent design/creation is essential to Christianity, it is not synonymous. Intelligent design is not synonymous with any other specific religious theistic view of the world either. Evolution is not synonymous with any other religious atheistic view of the world (ex Marxism). Both are essential religious doctrines by which the religious worldviews which they support stand or fall.

The Humanist Manifesto I: “Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process.”

Evolutionist Julian Huxley: “I use the word ‘Humanist’ to mean someone who believes that man is just as much a natural phenomenon as an animal or a plant, that his body, his mind, and his soul were not supernaturally created but are all products of evolution, and that he is not under the control or guidance of any supernatural Being or beings, but has to rely on himself and his own powers.”

Humanist Manifesto II: As non-theists, we begin with humans not God, nature not deity……humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us; we must save ourselves…..human species is an emergence from natural evolutionary forces….

John Dewey, a signatory of the Humanist Manifesto I, wrote A Common Faith, in which he said, ‘Here are all the elements for a religious faith that shall not be confined to sect, class or race. . . . It remains to make it explicit and militant.’

In its decision in Torcaso v. Watkins (June 19, 1961), the U.S. Supreme Court stated, ‘Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism and others.’ A few years later (1965) the Supreme Court allowed Daniel Seeger conscientious objector status because of his religious beliefs. He claimed to be a Secular Humanist.

Evolution is based on faith. No one has ever observed anything close to abiogenesis. While the science of taxonomy isn't perfect and while the definition of species is debated, it is clearly observed there are limits to change within kinds of animals. No one has ever observed mutations changing an animal from one kind to another, and natural selection doesn't produce anything new. Fruit flies are still fruit flies, nylon bugs are still nylon bugs, polar bears and still polar bears, nowhere does one observe a fruit fly becoming a house fly or a polar bear. An evolutionist accepts by faith abiogenesis and enough random beneficial random mutations to transition from kinds of animals, and enough beneficial random mutations to provide enough information for ameba to become human, elephant, whale, bird, and sheep. Evolution is indeed religious faith in the extremely improbable.