Would the world have been a better place if any of today's popular religions weren't invented?

I believe it is quite possible the world might be a better place if none of today’s religions had been invented. I say this because I am not convinced religion is essential for the survival of humanity. Religion, regardless of which specific religion you want to practice or believe in, does provide humanity with rules to live by and a belief that there are consequences for not following the rules. So I think that helps.

However, without religion, I think people would be more like animals. Animals do not worship any special gods and they survive. We as humans, if we did not have religions, would likely need the governments, similar to what we have now, to provide the rules needed to maintain a civil society.