I totally agree with you.  There are all types that define themselves and are at all different levels.  There are many fakes.  I think we can see those at a level below us and a few above.  but those above us it is hard to tell all the time.  

as a former atheist, I would say you probably are one because you've never thought there would be any reason to not be.  that is why I was an atheist, I could so no reason in it, why worship something that patently tells you it isn't going to listen to you, can see no results.

All that changed for me when I hit the rock bottom, contemplated suicide, and in desperation searched for ways out.  then I had a hint, a glimmer that another possibility existed.  that all hope was not lost, that the world, while being a crazy, insane place, with crazy, insane rulers... I was not subject to them if I were to learn power within, the power that was given to me, and learn to use it.

in short, I discovered that there are no accidents, that regardless of whether you believe it or not, that is how your life is being shaped.  I saw it without a doubt, that I was on a path of sorts, a soul path.  I tried, successfully, to see that every incident had a purpose, a reason, and it was at the soul level that I could understand it.  

With that I gave it more of my attention, put more effort into learning how to manage it.  It was **the law of attraction** that I now give the most weight to.  not because I simply believe it, but because I now know it to be the case.  that I have seen the results.  the craziest secret is that in wanting you create the reality of you wanting.  so to want doesn't work, you must get into the feeling place of having it.  

Once you do that your whole world starts to change.  I started to ask questions, I saw things like 'knock and the door is opened' and found they in fact where.  that every question I could ask was answered if I would keep my eyes open.  I started to find myself learning all sorts of esoteric and crazy secrets of the world.  It was a journey of disillusionment and enlightenment.  can't say the journey is done yet, probably never will, but it has changed my world experience to a more pleasant one.  I can now see people as they really are, I am no longer surprised by their actions.  I have become aware thru meditation.  there is more to silence, the 'vocal mind' may talk a lot, but knowing is far more powerful.  

you have all the answers, but if you are asking outside yourself, you'll never find them like you will when you start to ask yourself and expect the answers to come to you.  (but by come to you, that also means following your inspiration, your attention)

so a personal religion would be to be bound by my own understandings.  in the end, we are bound by those no matter what we call it ; )  I totally agree that to be outside bound is a bad thing, it is a thought prison, and you can see the bars when you debate anyone inside it.  they have no authority to change their mind.

I still think Buddhism, while having many different sects, has a few that teach religious freedom as we are discussing.  I mean, his teaching clearly say do not take my word for it.  Buddha actually tries to get people to think for themselves.  I don't know of any other religion that does that.  Well the Zen tradition seems to have elements of that as well. Neither of them teach morality or attempt to have such authority over your reactions in life.  So I still see them as having a better form, not that all adhere to it in the true form that I would call correct.

Your correct jesus was a Pharisee

You might enjoy this article etymology is never quite straight that straight forward. 

https://forward.com/articles/10776/roots-of-religion/

I hear you, but suppose I find myself disagreeing because if you see someone being bound in thought, is it not right to help them see that they are in fact being controlled by an outside party?