I never saw buddism as a "religion" in the context as Christians or Jew, Hindus and Muslims. It's not like that. In a sense, there is no diety. But once the shift from a diety beleif system is made, the people who follow it consider it a "religion" but in a sense that a common "bond" is made between all humans. Budists are both confusing and exciting.

//EDIT some of Jesus' teachings do echo the wisdom of Budah. There are parralels in the desire to end suffering and ... how do I say "mitigate" lifes dealings that are undesirable.