General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Dalai Lama, a sordid history of Nazi Mentors and forgiving Fascists [View all]TM99
(8,352 posts)Hell, I hate quoting Wikipedia but even this article correctly describes the concept of 'god', 'gods' and theism in Buddhism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Buddhism
Archetypal beings (called devas or Noble Ones and not gods) are venerated as ideals to strive towards not as gods (as we understand it in the West) to be worshiped.
It would take many volumes to accurately describe these tantric concepts in Buddhism which have yes filtered into all forms of native Asian Buddhism due to the indigenous poly-theistic religions which were evolutionarily displaced by the introduction of Buddhism (Bon-po, Shinto, Taoism, etc.) into these countries. However, it is sufficient to state categorically that Buddhism does not concern itself with theism (poly, mono, etc.) in the same way as the West to for all intents in purposes to be atheistic or at least agnostic as we also understand it.