The "God of the gaps" phenomenon works both ways. I don't think the scientific method depends upon religion, nor would I want to live in a world without science. However the idea/phenomenon of once something is in the science column it is no longer in the religion column doesn't really make any logical sense to me. If an organized religion funds legitimate science, does it automatically cease to be somehow related to religion in their eyes? Doubtful, and this doesn't even take into account that much of the contemporary university system spun out of religious institutions in the 12th century.