Is Religion a form of Slavery or a way to Enlightenment

From time immemorial, makind has worshiped religions and has feared God. In early days, something which the human mind could not understand was given the name Act of God.
Our society is more of a religion driven  society rather than a culture driven one. Our religions define us, control our actions somewhat and make us believe in the word- Trust.
But have we become slaves to this religion or is it something which really enlightens us and vital for our survival?
My friend talked about will religion ever die. I feel religion has become a way of living for people. It's something they are used to and presence of religion makes them feel secure.
I think there are numerous benefits and disadvantages of having religion. But time has come to closely watch whether religions are creating values in our lives (like the tech era).
But no religion does strike as a taboo in the present world.