I see religion and church as synonymous. Things get clear when you go with God vs. religion. Does God exist and does God have a religion? There no question that religion was and is used to control people. A good question is controlling people bad? Traffic Lights control people, are Traffic Lights bad? Gravity controls people is gravity bad? The government controls people is the government bad? Religion controls people is religion bad?
You appear to be a true Laissez Faire person so you are probably opposed to any kind of controls that are not based in Physics. I don't necessarily agree with that. I think some traffic lights, government, and some religion is good ... too much however, becomes annoying and people tend to rebel. I believe that 100% God exists, and I don't believe that atheists exist. I believe that people who say they are atheist act are just unable to quantify their belief system. God does not equal religion, but Physics is a subset of God. God created the Physical Universe and all the Laws of Physics are actually Law of God. That said, I sent my kids to a parochial school and I feel they are better and more successful because of it. It all in how you looks at things I guess, but it is good to explore and challenge your beliefs.