Is atheism a belief?

[Mister Agenda]

[quote="Mister Agenda" pid='1879663' dateline='1548349131']
So 20% of people who identify as atheist either filled out the poll incorrectly or don't know the definition of atheist. That's not uncommon, to hear some preachers tell it, an atheist is someone who drinks, fornicates, and doesn't go to church. If you believe that preacher and stop going to church and start fornicating and drinking, you may think that you're an atheist even if you still believe in God. It turns out, evangelical preachers are not a good source for accurate information on atheism. We get some people coming here claiming to be -ex-atheists' who don't seem to have a clue about what atheism is and likely never were actually atheists. Being 'mad at God' doesn't make you an atheist, either (though you might be a maltheist).

[quote="Acrobat" pid='1879669' dateline='1548349566']
Or people take atheism to mean whatever they feel it means, sort of like gender identity. If he believes in God, but feels more like an atheist, he is an atheist.

Who am I to deny how they feel?

It's not that kind of identity. It's just one of two possible answers to the question 'Do you believe in any gods or God?'. What's usually happening when they give the wrong answer about what THEY believe is that they don't understand the question or they're being dishonest.
[quote="Acrobat" pid='1879669' dateline='1548349566']
It’s like “it’s raining, but I don’t believe it’s raining”

I'll give this comment all the attention it deserves.
[quote="Acrobat" pid='1879669' dateline='1548349566']
But we should also keep in mind that Christians were often labeled atheists for rejecting the Gods of the majority.

So perhaps they’re using it in this sense.

The meaning of atheisms has changed throughout history, and multiple meanings of it are still in use today. Some people see their defintions as holy scripture, inerrant, and needs to be accepted by everyone.

You are correct that in ancient times , the word was used differently. However, 'you don't believe in my gods' is no longer current usage. The usage of 'without God' dates back at least to the 16th century, and it seems to have caught on. I don't see how it advances the conversation to pretend the word is still used the way it was over a thousand years ago. What's wrong with the dictionary definition based on current usage? Neither the Koran nor the Bible nor the Book of Mormon contain the words 'atheism' or 'atheist' so what scriptural definitions are you referring to? In the Bible it says the 'fool says in his heart, there is no God'. I don't agree with the 'fool' part, but it doesn't seem to conflict with the definition of an atheist as a person who doesn't believe in any gods.