Atheism is the position of not believing in any gods or deities. It is not a religion and does not have a single shared doctrine, sacred text, or set of required beliefs. The only belief-related point common to atheists is the absence of belief in gods.

Some common perspectives among atheists include:

• No belief in gods: Atheists do not accept the existence of one or more deities.
• Reliance on evidence and reason: Many atheists prefer to form beliefs based on empirical evidence, logic, and scientific inquiry, though this is not a requirement of atheism itself.
• Diverse worldviews: Atheists may hold a wide range of philosophical, ethical, and political beliefs. For example, some are humanists, while others are not.
• Morality without religion: Many atheists believe ethical values can be based on human well-being, empathy, reason, and social cooperation rather than divine command.

It’s also helpful to distinguish two common forms of atheism:

• Implicit (or weak) atheism: Simply lacking belief in gods without making a positive claim that no gods exist.
• Explicit (or strong) atheism: Positively believing that no gods exist.

In short, atheism is defined by what it does not believe (the existence of gods) rather than by a comprehensive set of beliefs about the world.