Buddhism can be comparable with a lot of religions. Its more focused on the end of suffering than praising a particular deity and deity. Even the Catholic Church allows Buddhists, in addition to Buddhists allowing Catholics. This has been my experience, anyway - I study cults and religions, am spiritual, and heavily involved in yoga, meditation, and mindfulness.
Granted Im sure you could find people who disagree. But the people I spoke with are priests in either church/temple.
There are also different kinds of Buddhists, Christians, and Catholics as well. One Buddhist sect actually kills other Buddhists. Other Catholics and Christians dont exactly oractice what they preach, either.
ah, i see. Americans do have their own definition of Buddhism indeed.