All souls are equal, but not one. If our efforts are directed towards right direction, every soul can attain godhood. Every creature is unhappy on account of his own mistakes, and can become happy by removing the mistakes. Whatever he said is true and eternal. He did not found any new religion.
Religion is the nature of substances.
The nature of substances cannot be built. It can only be known. Tirthankar Bhagwan knows and exposes the nature of things, does not create them. He was a Tirthankar. He propounded the Tirtha i.e., the way to the liberation of the soul.