This is a very interesting topic. I am a very tolerable person. I have friends from many different religions and backgrounds and I feel ultimately that it's the individual choice to perform an act like the athiest described in the OP. While I personally am an atheist, I would never do something like that. Just because I don't believe the same things as you, doesn't mean I have the right to hurt you, taunt you, or harass you, just for your beliefs. I think this is what is going on in the middle east as well. Not all muslims are suicide bombers, just like all christians aren't crazy bible thumpers who believe you'll go to hell if you have pre-marital sex. Judging a group of people based on the actions of some crazy individuals isn't a viable option. It's like saying that because I'm American that I'm obese, I love McDonalds, and have more money than I know what to do with. None of those are true, so how can a blanket generalization like that determine the personality of every individual within a group. It's the individual who makes the decision to do something bad or good in this world, not the influence of the group that he/she affiliates with.