I'm just gonna come out and say it. The reason why there are so many "atheists" is because of the hateful, UnChristian (not to mention UnMuslim and UnJewish) like behavior of people who claim to speak for it. All religions, and lacks there of can be respected and can co-exist with one or another. Finding out what's what is part of the human experience. Too much hate and intolerance under the guise of religion has caused intolerance in the guise of not having one. There's nothing wrong with religion or lack thereof (unless it's a cult that preaches pretty scary stuff), it's the crap coming out of both sides that causes all these problems.
You know... like how the Religious Right movement came out of people being annoyed by Hippies. One breeds the other.