Buddhism does not have to be a religion, in fact many consider it a philosophical discipline rather than a religion.
Nice recommendation, Isis3Anubis. I consider Buddhism a mental exercise. At no point, in any sermon he gave, did he ever say he wanted to be a god, that he wanted people to worship him. That was imposed on him by people around him, which is in my opinion what happened to
the Jewish guy, as well. But if you study Buddhism, such things as the Metta prayer for example, you see that it is a mental discipline that emphasizes benevolence to others, and self control. And yes, the ego becomes eradicated little by little, over time, because as one observes their thoughts in meditation (a critical component to the practice), their awareness increases as to which thoughts are based on ego-defense, and which thoughts are based on genuineness, sincerity and a true expression of the soul. I would liken it a little to cognitive behavioral therapy of the Western world, lol. Anyway, great suggestion, Isis3Anubis.
missdarlingjess, have you read
Chakra Clearing: Awakening Your Power to Heal, by Doreen Virtue? Perhaps that's a good place to start, as you mentioned being interested in chakras. This book is about the chakras, plus it has a guided meditation cd with meditations for both morning and evening. Like a regular Buddhist meditation practice teaches awareness, the guided meditations on the cd will teach you to be aware of what's happening inside these energy centers along the spine, the chakras, that affect every part of our lives. It's very interesting to do these meditations, and over time your chakras
really do start healing and remaining clearer and more balanced. You could feel it.
I don't know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for or not.
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I love reading about Angels, Spirit Guides, Chalkras, etc. It's fascinating! 
