What happens when we rephrase it thusly?

I'd guess that most of the people here are positive about the nurturing and promotion of the human SPIRIT.

I'm curious to know how this is differentiated from religion, in your words. Is it a rejection of dogma? An acceptance of gnosticism? An inclusive, or exclusive way of dealing with other systems of devotional worship?

My own take is that religions are like most large organizations. They become corrupt from the head down and become self-serving. This is true across the board, from the smallest cult to the largest 'established' faith.

Therefore, the smaller the number of devotees, the more pure the religion.
Eventually we arrive at our own personal religions.

And then we arrive at no religion.

And then everything is the way and the now.

But don't get down too hard on religious people. Most are conditioned to follow traditions that are tightly wound into the local culture. In the larger scheme of things I suspect religion is less about theocratic dogma for most people and more about community. My grandmother is part of that scene- she's 90 and still volunteers to go sit with people and feed them lunch and so on. She's a senior member of her local congregational church.. very New England, very Scottish (my Dad's side).

I think it's important to be specific with the way we go about our opposition to religious influence in secular life. For me, there is NOT a sense of threat from all religions... Just the ones that are actively trying to impose their agenda beyond their own confines.