Then again, those religions where not absolutist as for example the Abrahamic religions are. I think especially the distinction between polytheism and monotheism explains a lot of that.
Religion is too broad a term, so there are subclassifications. You mentioned "absolutist" for one.
If one were to talk about religion in general, the definition would probably be close to encompassing nation states and corporations too: an intersubjective idea, that exists as long as people believe in it, and that evolves independently of any individual or group of believers.
