You can find guidance in religion, the way you can find guidance in a fiction book, or a scientific theory, or your grandma's dinner table fables. You can find guidance in whatever you choose, and religion is what you choose it to be. If the religious teachings you have encountered didn't match with your philosophical notions, you're free to ignore those religious teachings and stick to your philosophical notions. You're totally free from any bounds. Religion should be there for comfort, often guidance, but never for shoving someone else's ethic into your throat. In this sense, I understand that religion could be very useful, or could be very harmful - depends how it is used. And I'm saying it as a complete atheist - by choice.