The more informal kind of Buddhism, as opposed to the strict and formal
Theravada Buddhism. Mahayana literally means big
ox cart, while Theravada means small ox cart, because there are many more people who are informal than formal. Some believe in the teachings and ways of Buddha but do not follow and believe all of them. Many Mahayana Buddhists are atheists and do not see
Siddhartha Gautama as a God, but rather a teacher to look up to. However, a Mahayana Buddhist isn't necessarily atheistic, just not as strict as Theravada Buddhists.
Example for Mahayana Buddhism:
I'm a Mahayana
Buddhist, and although I believe in everything
Buddha taught in his lifetime, I do not consider him divine or
godly.