What if people came up with the notion of religion to help everybody suffering from mental illnesses?… Like they imagined of this ‘Holy God’ that gave us a some sort of “purpose,” to put our worries (kinda) at ease, so we actually didn’t feel like meaningless and worthless beings… And so that we really could live a happy life while we have it, while also allowing others to do the same (i.e., live their own free and happy lives). Which means that, this act of promoting happiness creates the grounds for mental stabilization among members of a community—and thus makes the promotion of happiness the real reason for religion. (But it’s a lie like Santa.) The notion of religion is really just a survival mechanism that was created in order to coexist with other beings and coevolve with other species. And was established to make us feel “safe” existing in a world with others.

My point is, “promoting happiness” and “having good intentions” aren’t, themselves, religions. But they can be your life philosophies. You don’t need religion in order to control the design and the manner in which you operate your life, and to have your own principles/motives.

However, if the word ‘religion’ is intended to mean any sort of life philosophy, that makes you happy while respecting others’ lives too…then we all ought to be religious.