Religion Founders vs Followers

Who would you credit as the founder/s of the major world religions you're most familiar with?

When you consider the veracity and impact of various world religion's ideas do you tend to focus on the founder/s of the religion, historical adherents, or modern day followers?

Do you think it is actually or fully possible for religious adherents to follow or emulate their religious founders?

What core teachings would you associate with the founders of the religions of which you are most familiar? 

Many people believe that all religions are similar at their core. Is this a valid perspective when you compare the core teachings of religious founders? Do you find contrasting ideas more in the peripheral teachings or main tenants?

Up until the past few decades, different streams of Christianity were defined by denominations. Now, many churches don't even list their denominational affiliation on their building signs or the main page of their websites.
  - Would it be helpful for churches to define themselves based on the originators of the specific theology they
     promote, or move back to denominational identification? 

What matters most: The teachings of a religious founder, or their actions? How well do these two factors align for the founders you're aware of? 

Is it fair to say most modern-day expressions of ancient religions are essentially syncretic?

Some religious adherents follow ideas that oppose the teachings of the founders of their faith. For example, most Christians would consider Satanism and Christianity as polar opposites. Yet, many right-wing Evangelical Christians promote the writings of Ayn Rand. Anton Lavey, the founder of modern day Satanism defined his religion as " just Ayn Rand's philosophy, with ceremony and ritual added." So right wing Evangelical Christians who promote Ayn Rand's teachings could reasonably be defined as Satanists (or at least syncretic Satanist Christians).
  -  Is it realistic to expect people to relabel their faith based on the actual founders of the ideas they adhere    
     to?
  -  Do you have any hope that people will change their beliefs when they realize they are in opposition to the
     teachings of the religious founder they claim to follow?

Have you encountered people who claim to be non-religious, yet hold a worldview largely defined by the teachings of the founder of a religion?