For most, the purpose and process of religion are different than I have stated. To most, religion is the permanent and full acceptance of a set of traditions. This type of religion is not concerned with discovering truth because it believes it already has it. This type of religion does not openly seek something better, because it believes it is already perfect. Because this type of religion can never bring about the experiences promised in the scriptures, it always redefines and minimizes those experiences into something less. In far too many cases, religion is used as an excuse to do truly horrible things.
Many religions exist that can provide some benefit, but not anything more than one's own attempts at being good would provide. There are many people who claim to be believers of Jesus, for example, yet they demonstrate none of the capabilities promised to believers in the scriptures. They claim they believe in Jesus, but they really wish on Jesus. There is an important distinction. The difference is that when you limit your beliefs to something less than all the truth God has to offer, you are prevented from actually getting to know the Lord, his will, and his character in full. Accordingly, you also stop short of becoming like the Lord in full. The degree by which you fall short in becoming like him is the degree to which you will fall short of experiencing your greatest potential for happiness.
Most Christians' knowledge of God is sufficiently limited so as to prevent them from being more of a good person than any other nonreligious good person. In fact, most Christians are so limited in their understanding and implementation of God's character that they are put to shame by many who are staunch atheists. It is like most Christians are beat at the races by racers on foot in spite of their possessing Ferraris, because their traditions prevent them from fueling, starting, and driving the car, so they resort to pushing it along the track.