Why do you think atheists pay so much attention to religion?

[Zen Badger]

People hate what they don't understand is the main reason. For others, it is a lifetime of indoctrination and servitude. And for a few others, it is abuse by someone they saw as a religious authority figure.

However, from what I have seen from most atheists, it is about a fear of the unknown. They may not always label it as fear, but it is still fear. They focus on their fear in a way to remove it from their sight. I know most on this site would not like this explanation at all, but it is what it is....we're all still human after-all and such fear is a human trait not unique to the close-minded religious folk we often pin it on (Salem Witch Trials, Inquisition, Crusades*, etc.)

*Crusades were more about corruption, but there must have been those who feared the Moslems as well.

Prove it, prove that it is fear that motivates us and not contempt for the continued unreasoning and unreasonable belief in an outdated and repeatedly disproven mythology.