Quote Originally Posted by Alan View Post
When I think of an atheist, I simply think of someone who doesn't believe. If they then form communities with diplomats and advocates, haven't they then taken it to the point of being a belief, perhaps it's own religion.
No, that is not how religion works. That is not how belief and disbelief work. Like any group of people atheists have a "dominant" culture, but it varies to some degree, again, like any group of people.

Atheists also band together to protect themselves from religious people who want to prevent them from being fully enfranchised in the greater society.