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I know there are plenty of people who say that certain ideological dogmas are religions. Usually though I like to make a personal distinction and use the term "religion" in quotes when talking about them.

Free Market Economics is clearly a form of religion. True Free Marketers believe that any interference by regulating agencies is artificial. They consider virtually any interference by any non-believing entity a violation of their inalienable rights. Accumulation of wealth is a measure of righteousness. They worship Capitol for Capitol's sake. They have their own esoteric language which demeans some individuals and exalts others like (human capital) They even have their own deity they refer to as "The Invisible hand of the Market" which is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. This deity rules over it's own realm (the market) which exists for it's own sake irrespective of the effect it has on it's human subjects. If the great free market is criticized the critics are ostracized and labeled with demeaning terms like socialist, communist and worse.

Narcissism is a mental disorder so filling a church with narcissists would not be that easy and if you could they'd probably kill each other ..lol

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on my post. I find it fascinating to get a little glimpse into what other people think. Most people disagreed with my posting. I'm OK with that. I learned a long time ago the reality is not a majority vote.
A few points of clarification. I do not think literally that these other ways of thinking should be called religions. I was speaking metaphorically.
Secondly, I was hoping that I did not need to state that I think racism is a bad thing. Maybe I do. First of all, this is agonstic.com, so we all think that religion is a false narrative; so saying that something is like religion is not an endorsement. Secondly, in our society, the word racist is not a compliment. It is generally accepted to be a pejorative term. Even racists denied that they are racists.
Lastly, as for those of you who claim to have no spiritual needs, in the sense that was in my posting, I am skeptical. I've met many people who claimed to have no spiritual needs; I've met non that seemed to actually have none. Furthermore, in the arts, philosophy, religion, and literature such issues are ubiquitous.

What you mean is belief system, not religion. Religion is definitely the belief system that contains supernatural components. It is more than just a belief system but a social system too. There's hierarchy and social obligations. You are both making religion more than it deserves and less by not focusing on the reality of the details about what religion is.
Religion does focus on the imaginary aspects, let's just say the separation from reality not just the negative social aspects, like making fairly good intentioned people do bad things.

Your definition of "Spiritual needs" as "want to be recognized, appreciated, valued, and loved" has nothing to do with a yet to be demonstrated supernatural (not of the natural (real) world) God.

Dictionary: "religion" "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods."

When I was young I recognized religion (dishonestly asserting faith (belief without evidence) is a path to truth (thing that can be demonstrated with evidence (faith is necessary for religions as with evidence of a god, you would not need faith) as a blight on civilization as it discourages and in some cases severely restricts skeptical and critical thinking skills.

In my youth I recognized the Christian church was trying to teach (fill my head with nonsense) me things that were demonstrably NOT based on testable realty, I grew up. I felt no childish need for an invisible sky daddy to hold my hand and make me feel better. Over the years, I have helped many former theists ascend from the darkness and fear of superstition into the real world where they take increased responsibility for their actions and enjoy the diversity of others their church had warned them to fear and hate.

". . . . leave these spaces open that we can truly be agnostic or atheist." ?????

That is utter and complete nonsense.
Agnostic = not knowing there or is not a god
Atheist is not accepting the theist's positive claim that a god exists.

There are no other other requirements.
No need to remain silent or muted when theists interject nonsense.
I usually use the world "spiritual" nonsense as most theists (and the dictionary) include a supernatural (not of the real world; spirit, soul) component to the term "spiritual".

The newest, most popular religion is "spiritual, but not religious".

What the hell is a spirit? No evidence for the existence of spirits has been collected in the known history of man.

Mostly these people believe in hooey, sky daddy and/or Jesus christ, and just don't go to church. I get nervous when I see "spiritual, but not religious".

The more I read that the more I love it. Very true.

Would you consider Tea Party Republicanism a religion?

You can call fairy tales what you want. Religion is nonsense.

I see it as a mistake to conflate the meanings of various lexical items that you mention.

I disagree with your assertion that we all have certain basic spiritual needs.

Religion does not satisfy any of my needs. I find it to be absurd.

Racism does not in any way give me a sense of being valued because I am a member of a superior race. Moreover, I find the concept of a "superior race" to be utterly repellent.

I have no need of religion of any kind. As for being "spiritual" in any way this can be anything you want it to be. It might be "spiritual" for you to sit and watch the ocean but the term you are using still came out of someone's holy book. What basic spiritual need is it that we have? This is all delusion. Many people want to be happy having this delusion but they also cannot be honest with themselves.

I feel no need for anything spiritual or anything that resembles religion. I can stand beneath the night sky and stare out into the universe, or look at an insect, and feel a great sense of connection. Through science, I know that everything is connected; we are all made from the same "star stuff."

I find much more comfort in knowing that shit just happens sometimes and there is no cosmic reason for anything. When I believed in a god I had to wonder why it allowed such horrible things to happen to good people, to children--now I don't have to ask that question.

People delude themselves into thinking that their god is looking out for them while it is simultaneously allowing horrible things to happen to others. And, when something horrible happens to them, well--god's plan and all that poo.

I think if children were taught reality from the start, they would not feel the need to turn to gods and fairy tales; and, instead, will look inside themselves and turn to fellow humans (family, the community) for support, comfort etc. when they need it. And, this support need not be under the guise of an expanded definition of religion or spirituality.

First you have to prove a god is real with objective evidence. Religion is meant to control how people think. I out grew religion and became and atheist. I love myself, but don't need people to worship me. Never did the cult thing. Been there and do the racist thing. I met some people that showed me racism was wrong. Now I look as people as humans, all equal no matter their skin color.

We have tribal instincts that lead us into these faulty ideologies. We have a need to belong because we are social animals. It's difficult to leave that behind completely.