Bigotry

bigoted |ˈbigətid|adjectiveobstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of one's own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold different opinions : a bigoted group of reactionaries.• expressing or characterized by prejudice and intolerance : a thoughtless and bigoted article.

prejudice |ˈprejədəs|noun1 preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience : English prejudice against foreigners | anti-Jewish prejudices. See note at bias .• dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior formed on such a basis : accusations of racial prejudice.2 chiefly Law harm or injury that results or may result from some action or judgment : prejudice resulting from delay in the institution of the proceedings.verb [ trans. ]1 give rise to prejudice in (someone); make biased : the statement might prejudice the jury.2 chiefly Law cause harm to (a state of affairs) : delay is likely to prejudice the child's welfare.PHRASESwithout prejudice Law without detriment to any existing right or claim : the payment was made without anyprejudice to her rights.ORIGIN Middle English (sense 2 of the noun) : from Old French, from Latin praejudicium, from prae ‘in advance’+ judicium ‘judgment.’

Those two words encompass "atheist" better than any I have seen so far.

The explanations for the hate of Christians are thinner than anything I have heard from a racist or a sexist.  A person who was of that religion did something to piss you off years ago, so you hate anyone of that religion?  Yes, that's rational.  That's exactly how racists get there too.

Don't believe in God?  That's fine, I don't either.  Wanna hate people who do?  You're a bigot.  Don't like being called a bigot?  Stop behaving as one.  Want to have a civilized debate about the existence of God?  That's fine.  A difference of opinion is not bigotry.