Religion is certainly a force. but I don't think it's a bad one. Religion helps many people to find their place in this world and to understand it's structure. Some people try to use religion to separate people. But it is not the religion's problem. It is people business. So blaming religion in all the bad things that happen around us is dancing in circles.
Though I am a religious person, I do believe that so many religions have brought about division in people and If you doubt me look at all the terrorism going on these days, they can be attributed to religion.