"Bill, you seem to be making the same comparison implying that not only has the church been guilty of atrocities in its history ,..."

No! I absolutely am not saying any such thing! Evil is done by greedy people who want power & money & such. Some of them happen to be atheists, some claim to be religious. The problem is, the religious ones have an easier excuse built in! "Oh, those we did away with were heretics and deniers of the faith!"

The atheists can't say much beyond "it was us or them, so get over it!"

An evangelistic faith? Oh indeed! "It says right here in our Book that we should go out and convert the heathen! What? You don't believe in our Book? Well, that's the point! We get to harass you until you do! It says so ...right here in this Book you don't believe in! Here.. I'll read you some verses out of that Book you don't believe in until you surrender or until we get enough power to make you sorry you resisted!"
   That worked pretty well with some ignorant tribes who already were superstitious and ripe for a story better than the Fish God they worshiped, and moderately well with half-way educated groups which found it easier not to argue when burning stakes were seen occasionally...... but not 'quite' so well with well-educated folks who knew enough history & philosophy to judge for themselves how to evaluate religious claims.
   Now, the basic urge to evangelize is still on auto-pilot with some sects, even as various states allow their citizens to think for themselves.

Get over it? No... I don't think so. Just keep on "preaching to the choir"... but if you knock on MY door, be prepared for an interesting discussion.