Atheism may be defined as materialism, but more precisely it means the belief or knowledge of the non-existence of a creator god or at least a deity overlord.

Atheism may be defined as materialism, but more precisely it means the belief or knowledge of the non-existence of a creator god or at least a deity overlord. Most Buddhists are atheists but not materialists. And although materialism and atheism are commonly conflated, they are very different issues, particularly considering non-abrahamic religions or philosophy in the technical sense.