religion is not science, exactly, it is more a set of beilefs in "otherness" in whatever form you have decided it takes, science is intended more to be a path to get where you're going
this is true, but the way you get to know the path itself is true reasoning and scientific analysis. Unless your religion is solely dogmatic. Most religions start with one or a few Dogmas and start reasoning from there.
1. suffereing exists.
2. suffereing comes from expectation (or desire)
3. you can stop your suffering.
4. the way to stop it is the eightfold path.
This is to me clearly sientific reasoning and analysis of the reality of suffering. Althoug with a religious flavour and based on the dogma that an eightfold path exists, and that this path works.
You call this scientific curiosity, i cal it a "form of science" (I didn't cal it exact science, becouse religion can never be that). Perhaps my name for it isn't as good as yours, or not acurate enough, I leave each person to determine that for himself.
Religion isn't something that an be universaly defined for everyone. Each person experiences it differently...