Buddhism: A Religion or Way of Life?

When you take something and try to determine whether it's an actual religion or not, the best way to go about it is to define it. But as I was going through encyclopedias and looking online for a mutual definition, there wasn't one. Dictionary.com defines it as

"a belief and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe"; while Paley defines it as
" The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and honor are due;
and Encyclopedia Britannica says religions

"are meant the modes of divine worship proper to different tribes, nations, or communities, and based on the belief held in common by the members of them severally...There is no living religion without something like doctrine" [The words, symbols, and concepts in religions and how these are used to explain what the beliefs, values, rituals, myths and symbols in religion mean- Dr. Dennis Lishka Buddhism.] ?"

While Lishka says to use the six dimensions of Religion in order to define an actual happening amongst a group of people as a religion.
Finally, Huston Smith tries not necessarily give a direct definition on religion, but tries to allow the reader to understand each individual religion and fully respect it.

He states, "...Does one faith carry on the lead, or do the parts share in counterpoint and antiphony where not in full-throated chorus? We cannot know. All we can do is try to listen carefully and with full attention to each voice in turn as it addresses the divine."

In saying this, Huston Smith is basically saying that we are not one to say whether a religion is a religion. All we can do is "try to listen" and learn about each individual religion to perhaps even better our own faith.