Religion will continue to be relevant in our world because the runner up, science, is very expensive. The pre-requisites to modern science are:
Here's a hypothetical scenario, that's not too related. I create two types of robots with artificial intelligence: Type A and Type B. Being robots, they are COMPLETELY rational. I program Type A to destroy Type B. And I program Type B to destroy Type A. It doesn't matter how rational they are, their underlying objective is to destroy each other. Existence will be challenging as long as the other type is around.
But if you don't want anyone in power to control you, you'd probably have to look at a communist model.
there will always be power dynamics involved in human relations... the key is giving people the tools necessary to at least not be oppressed unfairly. while pragmatically, it may be hard to give people the education necessary to do this, religion has a definite negative effect, making people more docile and less likely to try and better themselves.
you can always make the argument that religion can be used as a tool/catalyst for hard work and self-improvement (the protestant work-ethic for example), and that may be true... but is religion NECESSARY for this? i don't think so.
I'll think about this some more and maybe write more about it on my feature day. Something doesn't feel complete/sufficient.
i think a distinction has to be made between 'organized religion', and 'superstition'. while a poor, uneducated farmer might attribute the weather to a rain dance, it takes someone in a position of power to teach him the notions of Catholicism, Buddhism, etc. once that power dynamic is in place of course, it gets dangerous. the only real way to guard against that is through rationality/reason.