Is Atheism Yet Another Belief?
Has atheism been confused with the religious Nones? After all, isn’t atheism a group? If you are a None, does that make you an Atheist?
None — not one (of a group of people or things), or not any
Religious “nones” are those who answer “none of the above” on religious identification surveys… USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
Atheists also are more likely than other “nones” to say religion is simply “irrelevant” to them (63% of atheists vs. 40% of agnostics and 26% of adults with no particular religion). Pew Research
Or should atheist or atheism be listed as a religious identification on surveys?
Belief — 3. Something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons.
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language online
Accept — 3. a. To regard as proper, usual, or right: Such customs are widely accepted. b. To regard as true; believe in — Etymology: Middle English accepten, from Latin acceptâre, frequentative of accipere, to receive : ad-, ad- + capere, to take.
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language online
Disbelief, noun [dis and belief.] Refusal of credit or faith; denial of belief.
Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the thing.
Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language