Well, yeah, the last 6 letters are theism, meaning belief in one god, but that first letter makes a pretty big difference. Atheism is the rejection of the belief in a god.
To fall into the category of atheist you don't have to believe in anything, pray, or follow any rituals or codes of conduct. You just have to not believe in god.
As you point out in your definition, religions have those elements - fundamental sets of beliefs and practices, devotional and ritual observances, a moral code governing conduct.
Another definition of religion:
re·li·gion
Noun
- The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods.
- Details of belief as taught or discussed.
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Synonyms
faith - belief - creed - denomination |
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