(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)(RNS) — Contrary to public perception, atheists are, on the whole, less nationalistic, prejudiced and authoritarian than the average American. If an increasing number of people are not affiliating with a religious group and attendance at religious activities is believed to be in decline, why aren’t elected officials’ religious affiliations reflecting the trend? Not content simply to aggravate those who cherish religious traditions, the perception goes, they actually poke fun at people’s religious beliefs. As importantly, the nation would be better served to have a variety of religious points of view represented in Congress. (Bart Worden is leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Westchester and executive director of the American Ethical Union, a national organization devoted to ethics and social justice.