Is atheism a belief?

[Whateverist]

This is what comes of arguing over poorly defined terms.  If I think what gives rise to god belief is an aspect of mind/consciousness, something that is altogether natural, and I say I think there is in fact something to it, then which am I?  I identify as atheist because I don't call that aspect of mind "God" and I certainly don't believe in anything at all supernatural, whatever you choose to call it.  However I do think this aspect of mind can productively be regarded as something of importance.  It is something separate from the narrow I under my direct control, but something larger of which I am part.  Religion, done right (which it rarely is), can help people achieve a balance within this larger thing of which "narrow I" is a part - and it can do this even if what they literally believe is entirely untrue.

Let's reword the definition for theist then.

Theist: one who professes belief in at least one god.

Yeah, that looks like the same definition I use. But it isn't "theism/atheism" here that I think is poorly defined, but rather what it is that "God/gods" refers to.

An atheist therefore is one who does not profess belief in any god. If someone considers the universe to be "God", that's them professing a belief in a god, which makes them a theist.

The example of the person who thinks God = the universe still has something in mind by equating the universe with God which remains unexplained and I don't see the point of the statement. How does God=universe explain the sense of communion people feel with God? With or without God/gods I'm already in touch with the universe.

As an atheist, I can accept that such a theist may consider the universe to be "God" or believe in God in a metaphoric way, but I need not share the same attitude myself.

Of course not. But I wonder what you think informs and confirms what it theists believe in which goes by the G word, aside from it being a mistake that is. I think it is a mistake too but I don't think is is just a mistake.