The bible is not explicit in defining the word "religion." Only a handful of times is the word religion even used. The Apostle Paul in his testimony considers his background as a former religious Pharisee. in fact, the Lord compared the Pharisees and other religious zealots of His time on earth to white washed tombs, clean on the outside but on the inside, filled with the defilement of dead men's bones!!! In fact, observing the Pharisees in the New Testament could be the greatest example on the biblical perspective of what religion actually produces.
Theses descriptors bring images to mind as definers that undergird religion:
Traditions, rituals, praise from men, hypocrisy, misinterpretation of scripture out of their original context, godly appearances in robes, crowns, collars and other vestments to promote a sense of external godliness, inward corruption, pride, secret sins, a major on minors, oppressive, narrowminded, judgmental. Forced, oppressive, mandated, and pressured. At times, even racist, as the Jews regarded the Samaritans who were seen as uncouth in their worship style.
Consider also that religion can also be fleshly, with various attempts at worship devoted to an appeal to the sensuous, in an effort to stir up feelings and emotions, offered to God as an earthly sacrifice, not spiritual but carnal. No spirit, no truth.
the Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians and others that the carnal or fleshly mind is at enmity with God, unable to understand what God calls true worship as described by James:
"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight reign on their tongues DECEIVE THEMSELVES, AND THEIR RELIGION IS WORTHLESS. Religion that God tour Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
TO LOOK AFTER THE ORPHANS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR DISTRESS AND TO KEEP ONESELF FROM BEING POLUTED BY THE World!!! James 1::16,17.
Wow, the world and its pollution is yet another subject as to the the failure of organized religion.
“Keep oneself from the filth of the world” can’t be achieved when the physical church itself is the world!! Come out God’s people!!! Yes. That’s a whole topic in itself. This really describes religion PERFECTLY, an outer form of godliness but denies the power of God. Religion is phony. Self deceptive. And prone to pride. Because of this, there’s no grace. No grace means bitterness. Bitterness means bitter roots that spring up and contaminate MANY!!!