This Week in God: Obama White House Meets with (Gasp!) Atheists

THIS WEEK IN GOD.... First up from the God Machine this week is an interesting meeting at the White House, which may have been a first.

Last week, the Secular Coalition for America, an atheist advocacy group, held its first-ever individual face-to-face with the White House. Ron Millar, the coalition's acting director, told POLITICO that he met with Paul Montero, Obama's religious liaison in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Obama "is opening a little door to include us in, which we are very appreciative of," says Millar, who says he anticipates a number of additional such meetings with the administration.

Among the concerns Millar says he touched on was proselytizing in the U.S. military: "That is something we really want to follow up with this administration, because we have not seen much there."

There have been organizations representing atheists around for decades, but I don't recall ever hearing about one being invited to the White House for a chat.