How does one go about making a new religion? Well, I don't know. I never made one. But others did. They're still doing it. The concept of religion has changed throughout history, so that what one would think of as "religion" in the ancient world is different from "religion" in the modern and contemporary world. Yes, "cult" is one word people like to label modern religions with. But "new religious movement" is more scholarly and less derogatory. Many NRMs have emerged over the years. Of course, some of them deserve the title of "cult", because that's what they are. But when you really think about it, some parts of organized religion, the category that most people think about when hearing the word "religion", seem a little cult-like too. So it's all hazy and blurry, with no single concrete definition. In the end, "religion" could be whatever an individual thinks in terms of, or finds beloved. This is much like the kind of obnoxious word "spirituality". I don't hate the word, it just seems a bit New Age-y to me, if that makes sense.

So, is some people's religion their family, because they find it most beloved? Or their favorite sport, their favorite band? Kind of. Of course, some people would find this strange, but then again, there are fans who like to call their hobbies their religion or "rituals".