Questions for your Religious friends.

[tackattack]

For the same reason most people hate, lack of understanding and perspective, and sometimes really deep insecurities

That's why people hate, not why they hate atheists to the degree they do.  I don't think anybody lacks understanding about sexual orientation, but gays end up near the bottom anyway.

Your answer doesn't explain why atheists are consistently hated more.

I don't believe they're hated more. Perhaps there's an identifiable victim bias or availability bias you'd like to discuss. I personally, don't hate atheists any more than anyone else, myself included. I get that you might perceive more attacks from your perspective on atheists, you being one. But you can see where I'm having problems with the generalization when I don't hold the views that you're attempting to frame around "All Christians".