Is atheism a belief?

[Angrboda]

if the standards and criteria aren't specific to atheism, then they aren't a part of atheism proper, contrary to what you seem to have been arguing this whole time.  What the hell is your point?

That's right. There are standards and criteria which aren't themselves atheism, which lead some people to conclude that atheism is the correct view of things. These people have reached their beliefs concerning religious questions according to their prior beliefs. (Logically prior, not necessarily temporally prior) 

Therefore they have beliefs (things they hold to be true). Therefore when they assert that their beliefs concerning god are good beliefs, they do have things which can be challenged and discussed. Atheism is not a lack such that an atheist need not defend it.

So close. If atheism is not these standards and criteria, and it is these standards and criteria which are the things that need defending, then your last statement, that, "Atheism is not a lack such that an atheist need not defend it," does not follow. It may nonetheless be true, but it can't be concluded based upon what you have argued because you have argued that the things that an atheist must defend are not atheism. The fact that an atheist has beliefs that can be challenged and discussed becomes little more than a red herring.