Until we remove religion we won't advance as a civilization.

That'll go about as well as the idea that until we remove greed we won't advance as a civilization. It's human nature for some portion of the population to be more motivated by belief than empiricism, just like it's human nature for some people to be more motivated by greed than empathy or loyalty. And I really mean nature, these are not learned behaviours, that's why religions have sprung up independently across the entire globe all through history.

So by "remove religion" you have to understand that will require a multi generational global eugenics effort to fundamentally change human nature. Which is ambitious to the point of absurdity. Not to mention the potentially devastating side effects, could we ever be inventive again if we breed out the tendency to believe in things we cannot see? Would that cripple the intelligence that let humans take over the world?

You'd be far more successful accepting that part of the human condition and building a society that can withstand and mitigate things like religion or greed. Better yet, stick a saddle and harness on them and maybe even get some net good out of them.