[Serious] Atheist Dogma

[Belacqua]

"All thinking people" have heard religious claims. But that does not make the word "atheist" a dogma, religion or political party.

"Atheist" merely means "off" on claims of God/god/s/deities, nothing more.

That's right. I would never say that atheism per se constitutes a religion, dogma, etc. 

It says nothing about the education of the person ascribing the label to themselves or their views on any topic. 

Maybe it only tells us that something about the society they live in gives them the tools to reject religious claims. But that's pretty general. 

I have run into atheists who voted for Trump, others who think Che, the asshole who lead to Castro's Cuba was a good thing. And while I like Penn Jillette on social issues, he is unfortunately a "no Government is better" economically.  And I absolutely hate Ayn Rand. 

Point is, you cant pigeonhole any label.

This is certainly true.

In John Gray's book Seven Types of Atheism, he describes at length some of the different schools of thought that have led to atheism in history, and the different conclusions people have drawn from their opinion that God isn't real. 

As an example, he describes how certain "new atheists" write as if when belief in God will go away we will be left with a liberal society that embraces science. Not all atheists think this way, of course, but it's been something we've seen in the media. 

You're right that people who hear and reject religious claims may do so for any number of reasons, and may end up with any number of conclusions.