Originally Posted by
gypsy tears 
...a religion "as we understood" it.
I don't see how that changes the basic thing. It might be the deity of one's choosing and making, but it's still religion. No different than, say, Unitarianism. Just because your beliefs are stricter or laxer or what have you doesn't change the fact that what you've got is a religion.
Doesn't make AA bad, just means the claim that it isn't religion isn't really accurate.