they are not the same thing

Your confusing nationalism and (I forgot the word for it but it just means having different countries).

Okay, when I say "Accept what they say about their own beliefs" I mean that if an Athiest tells you that they're an atheist, you should store in your head as a fact "Billy is an Atheist" not say "No Billy, you believe in God, you just don't like him" That statement is impossible to prove or disprove and it's just naïve to say that.