The essence of a belief is that it desires to explain something at the larger level, itself not readily present. That should be the end of the discussion. An atheist is a person moving into the area of beliefs and that person has nothing to offer except for the denial. Yet that denial is still part of the level of these beliefs.

It is better to declare oneself a non-believer than an atheist. It's cleaner that way. Plus, it allows to consider the reality that is not readily present, without making it more than what is present.