can religion

of course not! 🙂

I think it can, the Protestant reformation did a good job of producing no art, and destroying art in an effort to be rid of idols. So, yes.

no, it can’t.
religion needs something to rail against, and vice versa… thus, they both need each other.
(sort of like the way Jon Stewart needs Bill O’Reilly, and vice versa)

@ mcclure, yeah, you’re right. graven images become a rallying point for the faithful.
@JohnO, even the Protestants needed a crucifix.

As often it does, it comes down to definitions. I would say no or maybe more that the question is invalid, i have a quite broad definition of art and most of religion is included in it.

Both man-made concepts originating from human imagination so similar in that regard; less people die for “art” though.

It may not rely on the picture art of icons, but the hymns and songs that are central to most protestant “liturgy” are art as well. There is a certain art to protestant (and catholic) prayer too, I’d dare say.
There can e no religion without art, because art is how those who seek to experience or express the divine do so.