Does every mention of a Creator signify the presence of religion?  If we can agree that religion is any system of faith and worship, the answer is unequivocally, no. 

Naturalistic theism demonstrates how that through the exercise of reason alone, the logical conclusion is reached that a creator exists.  Such a conclusion requires no faith in, nor worship of, a creator in order to be reached. 

Other competing logical sequences exist which reach the conclusion that no creator is necessary or that no creator exists.  Among these, the most common today is naturalism.  Naturalism concludes that no creator is necessary.  Both theism and naturalism are philosphical in nature.

Naturalistic theism and naturalism both attempt to offer reasonable explanations for observable effects.  As such, each is a philosophy neither of which is religious or a religion.  It must be admitted then, that a reference to a creator may be made without endorsing or even implying religion—just like in the US Declaration of Independence.