Buddhism explicitly denies the existence of gods.

False. Even with a cursory understanding of buddhist tradition you should know that the many schools accept the existence of god-like beings, but differ on their influence of the buddhist practitioner.

You could start to increase your understanding by reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_deities or https://www.learnreligions.com/atheism-and-devotion-in-buddh...

Let’s not start an ecumenical debate that has been settled for decades.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_points_unifying_Theravād...

Some traditions do not agree, of course.

You are using broad unsubstantiated statements to make your points:

> Buddhism explicitly denies the existence of gods.

Where does it state that? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_points_unifying_Therav%C... says nothing about the denial of the existence of gods.

I don't think Chinese Buddhists seem to care.