Why do certain people hate atheists?

[Moonwalk]

99. Religion, like many other things, is a competitive team sport....

Fear of atheists and atheism is pretty much like any fear people have for those who are not on their "team." As in football, you have a team, usually one that your family has long supported. You root for them, and you "boo" the other team. And it's desperately important to get more people to support your team. This is why your friend was so upset. You're no longer on the team. How could you give up rooting for the team?

That's what people fear--that supporters of their "team" will be taken away by other teams. They especially fear conversion of their children. The farther from their own religion, the bigger the fear. Which is why Christians are less afraid of their kids converting to different Christian denomination then they are of their kids converting to a very different religion like Islam--which is the "enemy" team after all. The one who competes with Christians for converts. The other enemy team, from their point of view, are Atheists who not only will convert people from Christianity (thus shrinking those who are supporting that team), but undermine their desire to cheer on and glorify and gain supporters for their team as they want to do so. Like putting up nativity scenes in public parks.

Atheists are a terrifying danger. Unlike, say, Jewish folk who are content if you let them put up a menorah in the park as well, the atheists want the nativity scene gone because they don't want *their* kids being preached to and converted. But preaching and converting is a very important part of certain religions, and anyone who says they can't use the public parks for nativity scenes, or put up the ten commandments in court is an enemy. Someone who is weakening their ability to get people on their team and make it the winning team. Yes?