Buddhism is non-theistic. It has no creator God. Buddha was not a God or Deva and claimed all of what he gained was due wholly to human capability and intelligence. Anyone can be a Buddha. In Abrahamic religions, for instance, Christianity, mercy or similar themes are due to the divine; in Buddhism, mercy is attributed to the kindness of human kind. One example is when the Buddha lay starving through ascetism from lack of food, when a girl - a complete stranger - gives the dying Buddha a bowl of rice porridge, which he takes gracefully, and eats. Doing so saves his life. Mercy in Buddhism comes not from the divine or supernatural but human effort for altruism and compassion. Buddha was also a man, and had emotions like one. He never claimed to be a God.
Further, different schools have different thoughts and interpretations.: some schools see Buddha as a super human - but a human none the less, while others see him as a mere man who has reached the pinnacle in wisdom and compassion. I follow the second interpretation.
Many Buddhists are atheists, especially in the west. I highly suggest watching this documentary. It is such a beautiful story.
Unfortunately, many westerners are ignorant of Buddhism and think Buddha is a God. That, or they apply western and Abrahamic religion interpretations to it, which doesn't fly. It isn't the case. It has Devas and Bodhisattvas but I find them less important the overall message of the religion and interpret them as things to emulate (for example Guan Yin, the Bodhisattva of compassion). I think of them like Saints.
