A new study by sociologists claims that one group is being discriminated against more than others in terms of religious tolerance.
As I pointed out in a comment at that post, people who hear the word “atheist” in a poll are likely to think of the militant, angry, Madalyn Murray O’Hair style of atheist rather than just a person who doesn’t believe in God.
I didn’t get this far in my comment, but it’s worth noting that vocal atheism tends to define itself in what are perceived as negative terms. Not “gee, I want to go and practice atheism and make the world a better place,” but “gee, I have to prevent these religious folks from spreading their negative influence.” And so the people who do hold religous beliefs see this form of atheism as an active threat to them.
Atheists, I’m sure, would tend to define their own beliefs much more positively (think Gene Roddenberry), as working towards a humanistic utopia where mankind has freed itself from the yoke of superstition and prejudice. But that’s not the way they’re perceived.