"religion . . . "

religion.
what a word.
there is so much wrapped around that one little word.
thoughts of "religion" are not usually passive - at least in my world; they are passionate.
if you look up synonyms of the word "passion" you will get these two together (to name a few) . . .
delight.
rage.
the passion evoked by this one little word can be a delight - or it can be rage.

“Religion that God our Father accepts 
as pure and faultless is this: 

to look after orphans and widows in their distress 

and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

[james 1:27]

God is not impressed by our rituals and ceremonies and services.  His church is not confined by a building, or practiced in a program.  He is not concerned with the 'outside of the cup.'
What He wants is for us to live and act with kindness and love to everyone - every day - without expecting something in return.  
Conditional love will not do.  We must love Jesus with all of our hearts and love others as He loves us.