Atheists make up a minority in the United States. Most people believe in some sort of higher power whether or not they worship it through established institutions.
Also, a major reason as to why I became an atheist is the freedom of information and for the pursuit of truth no matter where it takes me. To simply discredit someone else's beliefs simply because they are contrary to your own or are just moronic in your eyes is simply not a valid form of reasoning. To me atheism isn't about opinions or speculations, its about collecting evidence and making decisions based on that evidence be it historical evidence, lack of physical evidence, or philosophical ideals. Atheists who discredit religion without a form of evidence or philophical insight are no better than close minded theists who try to stomp out other opinions and beliefs.