IS BUDDHISM ATHEISTIC?

The historical Buddha taught that believing in God or gods was not helpful to a person seeking enlightenment.  He rejected metaphysical speculation, focusing instead on the practical ways to end suffering.

God, in this way, is unnecessary in Buddhism.  For this reason, Buddhism is more accurately called non-theistic than atheistic.

The Buddha also plainly said that he himself was not a god but simply "awakened."  Throughout Asia, though, it is common to find people praying to the Buddha or to the many clearly mythical figures that populate Buddhist iconography.  Stupas that are said to hold relics of the Buddha are crowded with pilgrims.

Even in Theravada Buddhism, or Zen Buddhism, considered non-devotional schools, there are rituals that involve bowing and offering food, flowers and incense to a Buddha figure on an altar.  But these activities are more gestures of respect than the worshiping of a god or God. 

In the case of Zen, rituals may also be a way of making a philosophical point.  The monks will point to the Buddha on the altar and say, "That is you up there.   When you bow, you are bowing to yourself."  Everyone, in other words, is a buddha potentially.