Perhaps the 'atheism is a belief' argument could be resolved by seeing religious beliefs as looking towards the light - with many seeing something different in whatever 'light' they see - all the different religious beliefs. Atheists on the other hand are in the dark, not looking to the light, or seeing any. Not a good reflection perhaps on us atheists, but at least it might satisfy those intent on wilfully abusing language to assert atheism as some 'other faith'.
I like to flip it. There is an analogy written by Plato called the Myth of the Cave. Originally (as I recall) it's a political and philosophical outlook on human nature and god, I'd turn it around to say the atheist sees the light and the men chained are believers (whomever applies here).
So, the brief synopsis of the story goes in life we are men trapped in a cave. We are born in one environment and no nothing else. We sit side by side facing a plan wall and we can't turn our heads nor unshackle ourselves to walk around. This is our only reality. We see shadows behind us because of the warm fire but we can't make it out, only make guesses.
Meanwhile, one of us breaks from the shackles. He runs out of the cave and is blinded "by the light." Plato sees this light as god but to turn it around, let's say its atheistic/reality truth not darkness. So, the guy comes back down and tells his peers "what you're seeing-this "light" this fire (inside you) is false. That's not the real life. (What you interpret as god walking behind the shadows isn't real). In other words, Plato says we frame our own reality in interpretation that, because we have been there since birth, we have no perception out of it.
Side note: It's interesting to note that even though we center around christians, there are other religions who are "chained." I just think they interpret the fire and not get attached to that reality as their counterparts do. Though, sometimes I think even so they are still shackled.
So, anyway. The guy comes down and tells them what they see is false. He has "seen the truth." His peers don't believe him.
Plato says that we are all blind to the truth.
Instead of atheism being darkness, think of atheism as the light. It is what some say "stepping away from attachment" and seeing life as it really is. Since we are stuck in allusion, and assuming in this analogy, atheist gone pass all that, they come to tell believers they are seeing false things. But because they know nothing else, they would always tell atheist they are false, blind, in darkness, will one day reach non attachment, and so forth. Either an end state or destination.
But, no. that's the flop side. We can see it as believers being in the dark and atheist (no god at all) in the light. Just, I disagree with some atheist willing to cut on the lamp for believers as if reality will do the believer more good than the shackles. Sometimes we just need to let live belief wise.
