Are some theists afraid of atheists?

[emjay]

I think when theists are insecure in their own beliefs (ie when they live in a self-imposed bubble of willful ignorance... afraid to look outside of it for fear of what they might find) then atheists might be seen as a threat, in the sense that just by existing and voicing our opinions... which outright doubt or deny everything they hold dear... it makes it harder for them to maintain that bubble. In other words if they engage with us or pay attention to us, it forces them to confront uncomfortable thoughts that they would prefer not to confront. For those sorts of theists, I think they'd actually prefer if we were Satanists... because then the issues would be about choices within the same 'framework' of understanding as it were, rather than fundamental differences of opinion about the very basis of their beliefs.