Definition of Religion

Okay so what I understand from Clifford Geertz's definition of religion is that religion is a system that establishes in mankind's mind ideas and feelings about being. This system of religion has those ideas and feelings coated in such a way that those ideas and feelings will appear to be realistic to mankind.
It would appear so then that this system called religion feeds mankind ideas and feelings that are apparently real(istic). I would like to point out the key word "apparently" in the last sentence, which is the "seem" in Geertz's definition. As far as I can tell I basically agree with Geertz's definition of what religion is. I see it too as a system of stuff that does stuff for people. Going back to what I was getting at earlier, Geertz using the word "seem" catches my attention because I take it to mean that those who have taken up a certain religion would see that religion as true but in actuality it may very well be false. However, I will say that using the term "seem" makes it so that it leaves it open to the interpretations being that these things, religions, may be real(istic) and true or made up and false. Religions then appear to be real(istic) and true and may in fact be real(istic) and true but the possibility of it being false exists as well. Geertz sees things from both sides which I prefer rather than the views from people of their respective religions because I usually find that for them things have to be a certain way, theirs.
I would then like to say that I see myself as an agnostic/atheist, for a lack of better terms or whatever the case may be be it unsureness or confusion or misunderstanding. It is this apparentness about religion that makes me doubt the whole idea of it and be so hesitant about turning to a particular religion. However, I would also like to point out that I refer to Shamanism as sort of my religion because of family, and on a larger scale culture. I sort of follow this certain religion because my family follows it so I was raised with influences of it here and there. Which leads to a point about maybe why people follow a certain religion or not and I would just like to bring it to your attention. Perhaps people follow a certain religion or not because maybe it is sort of like a familial thing, just staying constant (and perhaps blindly too) with generation to generation.