Well people of religion were very key in the development of written communication. Without this, advancement would be stimied. On the other hand, wasn't just a few years ago that the Catholic Church acknowledged that Copernicus was right??!!
Religion is a double edged sword. It can help and it can hurt.
I am not a believer in current organized religion. In terms of what we truely understand with respect to the universe, creation, and science we are about as advanced as ants. That being said, what humankind has achieved since the industrial revolution is nothing short of amazing.
I hope us humans are around long enough to achieve what will be amzing to us in say in another milenium.