Are Buddhists really atheists?

Atheists in the West claim that Buddhists are atheists, so they (the atheists in the West) feel better that they are not the only atheists in the world.

My purpose is to ask Buddhists whether they really deny that God exists.

From my part, I know from my reason and intelligence that God exists.

So, paging Buddhists, please come over and let us discuss whether you Buddhists really deny God exists.

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yrger · 80-89, M

@Abstraction

This text:

In popular religion in every Asian country, the gods support Buddhism and provide for the worldly needs of the people for health, wealth and spiritual protection.

So, Buddhists are not atheists, they (Buddhists) pray to superior beings i.e. gods, who dispense worldly favors of health, wealth and spiritual protection.

Abstraction · 61-69, M

This only applies to certain types of Buddhism. Most buddhists are not truly atheistic. But the practice of buddhism means that there is no need to believe in gods. Here's academic analysis.
"However, it is a question whether Buddhism is truly atheistic. In Buddhist legends, the gods of India play a great role. Brahma and Indra encourage the Buddha to share the truth of his enlightenment with all people. In later mythic depictions in Mahayana Sacred texts, the audiences attending the Buddha’s sermons include hordes of deities of every type who listen and affirm the Buddha’s message. In popular religion in every Asian country, the gods support Buddhism and provide for the worldly needs of the people for health, wealth and spiritual protection. The native Japanese gods were seen as manifestations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to protect Japan even before Buddhism officially arrived. In Japan virtually all temples had a shrine, dedicated to a tutelary native god or Indian deity, to protect the sacred area.
"Buddhist teachings taught that the gods, though powerful to aid beings in their worldly life, were irrelevant for gaining enlightenment and spiritual development. No amount of devotion or praying to a god will bring Buddhist enlightenment. In fact, according to Buddhism, the gods themselves need to be enlightened."
https://bschawaii.org/shindharmanet/atheism/