"the argument being made here by some is that somehow a militant cause is automatically a religion because it has passionate devotees. "

No it hasn't. That is a straw man arguments typical of people who who will go to wild rhetorical and illogical lengths to promote their own point of view. Much the same way that some religious extremists promote their own points of view.

You are constantly proving that you personally are as zealous as any Internet Christian I have ever met. Whether or not you want yo say you are religious about it or not, is entirely your choice.