What early missionaries believed was that no matter how well-organised, functional and socially profitable to all a 'primitive' society, if they didn't know about Jesus they were jolly well going to change, by cruelty and force if necessary. This view, that all 'primitive' tribes and societies were despicably 'unevolved', is still held today in many forms. I studied social anthropology at Uni as an extra, and one theme that struck me was how terribly arrogant and chauvinist many 'Christian' and 'Muslim' interferers were and are. There are areas of Africa where animism is the general belief. This isn't a religion, merely a tenet that all nature has a voice and a power. These folk are just as moral, organised, socially responsible etc as any religious group. But if it isn't the Muslims it's the Christians barging in and ordering them around. I agree totally with many comments above that among the atheists in the world are many millions of good, kind, generous, benevolent people. I have known many over the years. The problem is, there's a tendency to think ones own mindset is The Correct One. A big mistake IMO.