What makes a religion?

[Mystic]

representation of a (what is valued very highly or close to what you value most) used as an object of (valuing to that degree).

What is worship to you?

wor·ship
ˈwərSHəp/
noun
1.
the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.
"the worship of God"
synonyms: reverence, veneration, adoration, glorification, glory, exaltation

This is a limited definition. In Arabic I guess the terminology all have different root words and language creates a different understanding. The same is true of the word "deen".

For example, in Quran, it says "have you not seen who has taken his desire as a god".

I guess there is barrier in language here. I've come from Quranic and Arabic background, and in various sayings attributed to the chosen ones, as well, as Quran, we see the concept of worship is not defined as what we revere the most or exalt the most, but what we value the most and are devoted to. What is occupies the devotion of our hearts. For example the word "ilahukumal takathur" "wealth diverts you", uses the same root word as "Ilah" (god).

I'll have to research the way worship was used through out the ages in the west. But for example, Imam Ali would state things like "they took the (lower temporary) world as a god...".

Maybe the words "god" and "religion" cannot be used like this in English. But this is the way they are used in Quran. If you research Quran, it came to people to awaken them with this perspective.

Perhaps this is one reason why God picked Arabic as the last revelation, because, of how the words allowed for this inner awakening and perspective.