In that sense it’s entirely neutral. Religion is the same kind of a word. Religion, which derives from the Latin religiāre, means to bind together -- people gathering around a common belief and organizing themselves into an intentional community for worship.

The real question is, “What belief system is true?” How do we measure the various competing truth claims of Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.? Christians believe that Jesus is the Truth, the Logos, the plan of creation. What Christians confess are the great creeds of our church. We assert these to be the truth.

We would consider belief systems that were contrary to the Scriptures, creeds, and confessions to be untrue. That doesn’t mean they are not entitled to be treated with full respect and dignity. It’s simply that contrary truth claims are mutually exclusive (that’s a matter of logic and not religious conviction). Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, which are mentioned in the question, have fundamental differences with orthodox, confessing Christianity. We say that not with disrespect, but with full respect for their right to believe what they believe.

The second way in which one can determine what is true is how the belief systems work out in practice. Do they deliver what they promise? Is the choice of that religion therefore a rational choice? Every belief system should be willing to submit itself to this kind of challenge and examination. In comparing worldviews, I personally have come to the conclusion the Christian worldview is the one that makes the most sense and corresponds best to reality of any that I have encountered, which is why I defend the Christian faith.