Buddhism may not be a religion in the usual sense of the word. Buddhism is more like a medicine, I would say, than a religion. It is something with a practical goal, the relief of suffering.
Adapting Eastern Spiritual Teachings to our Western Culture: A discussion with Shinzen Young at Charles T. Tart Home Page and Consciousness Library Online. For Transpersonal Psychology, Parapsychology, Consciousness, Hypnosis, Psi, Mindfulness.