Way of Life

I am starting to have a pet peeve about the phrase "way of life". Everyone says their religion is not a religion, but a "way of life". What is that supposed to mean?
From my experience, religions with no clear division between politics - public life - culture - religion tend to use those sorts of valuations more often than not. This is part of the reason why Christianity was so persecuted in the early centuries - it undermined Roman 'way of life'.
Its simply a weak attempt to get past the semantics of the word religion..

I say this out of experience its basically trying to say i belive in God and (insert religion) but that doesnt mean i am boring it doesnt mean i think (insert dogma here)

Last time i checked the definition of religion pretty much covers a way of life anyway...
Also "way of life" can and usually does to some degree seek to alleviate any responsibility, or culpability for objective truth. I.e. "this is my way of life and it's good for me, that's your way of life and it's good for you."

People who often hold this view or philosophy do so as if to say all ways of life are equal and valid. When I'm at a coffee house and reading my Bible I'll get the occassional, "Are you a Christian? Good for YOU. (with the emphasis on the you) To which I promptly reply "yes and it's good for you too!"