The foundational belief that links pagan traditions and religion is in the belief and reverence of a Supreme Deity whose statutes when upheld brings untold blessings.
All belief in the activity of one ore more higher powers of nature is religion even though it is not traditionally institutionalized organisation like Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism. The most common religion we find in all so-called "primitive" cultures is animism the belief in the idea of the animation of culture through powers that can be evil if one does not submit to them and offer sacrifices for them.