[quote]... I thought as atheists we were supposed to move away from persecution, not provide it. I want an honest answer to this.[/quote] There's your problem right there, you are generalising what atheists are 'supposed' to do... A very common mistake made by many. Atheists do not do anything that all other atheists do, there are no rules to unite us as any sort or religion, cult or anything. Two atheists can be completely opposite people in every manner of their being as long as neither of them believes a deity exists. That is it. That one simple question is what defines atheist - agnostic - theist. Do you believe a deity of some kind exists? Yes is theist, don't know is agnostic and no is atheist. These words hold no original meaning other than to define ones view on this simple question. Any other 'meaning' that has been associated with these words is wrong.