An analytic philosopher would probably ask: what do we mean by "religion"? Another version of the quote reads "Man needs God like a fish needs a bicycle." Obviously, it is an Atheist saying, declaring the uselessness of god/religion, and a preference of freedom from religion. So, I guess the issue is whether none or some of us need any all-explaining beliefs without evidence (or illusions of understanding about the unknowable)? In other words: Some are fish without bikes, and some are fish who get caught in the net of apostles/prophets et alia. And Murphy's Law would probably state that there are gods who need fish who need bicycles for religious purposes, even if nobody believes it.