A religion doesn't necessarily require the worship of a god. It can also be a personal set or institutionalized system of beliefs, and practices...
Both Buddhism and atheism are belief systems. And Atheism, even more than Christianity, has forced itself on Americans.
Not sure I understand you. Are you saying that absence of belief constitutes a belief by itself. I don’t think you can lump all people without belief into one group whether you call them atheists or anything else and treat them as one homogeneous entity. Its a bit like saying all non Christians form one single group and have the same belief system.
Remember Buddhism believes in Karma.
I have a friend who is a missionary who spent a lot of time in India. He works only in the rural areas. He says the orphans who are sickly are tied with a rope to a post and left to die. They call them rope children. No one is suppose to help them.
He rescued about 10 rope children and found widows to care for them. He was reported and arrested for interfering with their Karma. He was put in prison until the last of the children died. For the last 36 hours of prison the prisoner is hung by his wrists....so he won’t forget.
look up the definition of Religion (Websters)... Buddhism does not fit that description. Buddhism is a moral philosophy. It is not really a belief system (I know that it is a very fine line). I was a Christian for 1/2 of my life and then became a Buddhist. It is completely different on so many different levels.
PS I am only speaking from my personal experiences.