Buddhism doesn't qualify as a Religion, but more of a wisdom or philosophy and a path. This is often an assumption by those that do not understand. They often think that Buddhists worship The Buddha perhaps some do but then they must not have read the teachings and do not realize the idea is to become A Buddha, "enlightened one". The images of Buddha are not worshipped either but serve simply as a reminder of a truth, and to be mindful, at least for most. Of course in Buddhism one is free to think of it as a religion if they choose.

Buddhism is not a system of blind faith and worship owing any allegiance to a supernatural being. Buddhism doesn't come from a theistic position. It's not based on a doctrinal position, but on an existential experience common to all humanity - the experience of suffering. The Buddhist premise is that by reflecting, by contemplating, and by understanding that common human experience, we can transcend all mental delusions that create human suffering.

In Buddhism mere belief  is substituted by confidence based on knowledge and direct experience.

To the seekers of truth the Buddha says:

"Do not accept anything on (mere) hearsay -- (i.e., thinking that thus have we heard it for a long time). Do not accept anything by mere tradition -- (i.e., thinking that it has thus been handed down through many generations). Do not accept anything on account of mere rumors -- (i.e., by believing what others say without any investigation). Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything by mere suppositions. Do not accept anything by mere inference. Do not accept anything by merely considering the reasons. Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your pre-conceived notions. Do not accept anything merely because it seems acceptable -- (i.e., thinking that as the speaker seems to be a good person his words should be accepted). Do not accept anything thinking that the ascetic is respected by us (therefore it is right to accept his word).

A Buddha doesn't save people or erase their sins or purify them. That is something that you your self must do, but one might lead one to a path.

A Buddhist has freedom of thought and is not a follower of the Buddha. He will and develop his knowledge even to the extent of becoming a Buddha himself perhaps actually evolving the teachings and understanding further.

Buddhism is very partial to science in contrast to fantasy and fabrication.

Buddha is really just a concept like Christ, The Buddha, was a teacher, just like Jesus. In fact there isn't much difference between the two if the original teachings are studied before they were edited and molded into something else.

One Buddhist practice is to abide in a pure mindfulness in which there is what we call insight knowing, or direct knowledge. It is a knowledge that isn't based on perception, an idea, a position, or a doctrine: and this knowledge can only be possible through mindfulness.

What is meant by mindfulness is the ability to not attach to any object, either in the material realm or mental realm. When there is no attachment, then the mind is in its pure state of awareness, intelligence, and clarity. That is mindfulness. The mind is pure and receptive, sensitive to the existing conditions. It is no longer a conditioned mind that just reacts to pleasure and pain, praise and blame, happiness and suffering.

"One becomes a programmer rather than a program." The Matrix

 
If you get angry you can get swept away by the emotion. You can believe it as a truth, putting attention on the thoughts that give rise to it and listen to the fictional narrator in your mind, and continue to dwell upon it. You can suppress the anger and try to stop it out of fear or aversion. However, instead of doing any of these,  you can reflect on the anger and understand it, because it is something that we can observe. Now if your anger was a part of your true self, you wouldn't be able to observe it, your true self being the observer the eternal witness. This is what is meant by reflection. What is it that can observe and reflect on the feeling of anger? What is it that can watch and investigate for example the thoughts how we choose to perceive, the story we tell ourselves about the cause of the anger, and where we place our attention causing feeling. That which observes and investigates is what we call a reflective mind being detached.

As one might expect Buddhism and the teachings have evolved, just as the understanding between the tangible and intangible has evolved in science. You might check out Advanced Being or view the new premise that beliefs are not necessary at all. Read the "End of Beliefs" or A world without belief -  The Infinite Player