1. Cosmology
Many religions hold a set of axioms held to be true in a cosmological framework. They answer questions that are very personal and existential. Who are we? Where do we come from? Why do we exist? Where are we going?
The questions are important to us, because they make up our identities and guide our relationships with others. They are about finding meaning in life and personal dignity. A religious person may be taught these things as a small child, and if he continues to find them true and relevant, he may still accept them. If he finds them false or irrelevant, then he may reject them, at least privately. An irreligious person may be taught things to fill in the gaps or may discover his own path. Whatever answers his questions or just gives himself meaning and purpose and enjoyment of life will determine his identity and relationship with others.
2. Moral Teachings
Many religions have ethical teachings. These teachings explain right and wrong through adages, narratives, and philosophical thought. In contrast, atheism by itself has no ethical teaching. So, many atheists adopt secular humanism as the basis for their ethical reasoning. Other atheists may adopt non-religious philosophies, such as Daoism and Confucianism, or secular, watered down versions of religious philosophy. Whatever the case may be, we need moral instruction to guide us in our interactions with people, so that we may become upstanding human beings, differentiating ourselves from other animal species. Being humane is a human thing to do.
3. Self-Discipline
This should be quite obvious, as many devoutly religious people have strict schedules throughout the day. Many religions may have people maintaining order in a religious building. They may pray at certain times of the day and in a certain manner. The maintenance of regularity requires self-discipline, patience, and continence. A non-religious person, in contrast, may use other means to derive self-discipline, like riding on a bicycle every morning or playing the piano at a specific time of day.
4. Peace and Happiness
It is an established fact at this point that religious people tend to be happier than non-religious people. Personally, I think it's the consoling aspect of community and peace of mind that bring about happiness. A religious person thinks he is not alone. He sees himself as an important part of a bigger picture. This does not suggest that a non-religious person does not find peace and happiness in non-religious things or in material, physical things. Maybe a non-religious person may find solace in a quiet walk outside or community by volunteering locally.
5. Systematic Organization of Thoughts and People
One thing about organized religion is that it is, well, an organization of thoughts and people. Thoughts are organized, categorized, shared, articulated, and deliberated. People are arranged in a hierarchy or assigned specific roles. All of this is done in a systematic manner for consistency and predictability, helping people form personal identities. Meanwhile, a non-religious person may find a similar sort of thing in secular institutions, like schools or social groups.
Thus far, I've talked about the nature of religion and how we can exploit the characteristics of religion for our own benefit. While some people may disregard religion as nothing more than a bunch of supernatural beliefs, I think the supernatural component is merely superficial. I believe that religion has great potential in improving lives, and that the study of religion may be helpful for non-religious people to appreciate the positive contributions that religion has done for people and people have done in the name of religion. Cosmology, morals, self-discipline, complacency, consistency, and society are lumped in religion, but you don't have to adhere to a set of religious principles or seek membership. In fact, if you find secular, alternative ways that fulfill the human need to seek society, consistency, complacency, discipline, morals, and cosmology, then you benefit and grow spiritually, without organized religion.
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