Is contemplative experience, say philosophy, a Religion?

The  term “religion” does not accurately designate the kind of cultural tradition or domain of human experience that might be brought  into constructive engagement with cognitive science. 

Better designations would be “wisdom traditions” and “contemplative experience.” contemplative experience is found in important nonreligious contexts, such as philosophy. For these reasons, the term “religion” does not accurately designate the kind of cultural tradition or domain of human experience

According to the logic of mutual circulation, each domain of cogntive science, philosophy, phenomenology, and contemplative psychology is distinct and has its own degree of autonomy— its own proper methods, motivations, and concerns—but they overlap and share common areas. Thus, instead of being juxtaposed, either in opposition or as separate but equal, they flow into and out of each other, and so are all mutually enriched into, if you like,  Religious pursuits.