Competence in one's field has nothing to do with religion (unless it involves irrational, demonstrably wrong things, such as creationism)and discrimination based on such a criteria seems to be singularly stupid and intlerant.
Atheists can be just as vicious, disrespectful and annoying as believers. Some, like the OP here, are holier-than-thou, as if because they do not believe in the divine, they are authomatically a better class of people than believers.
This is a truth: Being an asshole is wholly independent from being devout or not. They just manifest their asshole behavior under different trappings.
I wonder, what's the ratio of good, religious people vs fundies? What is the ratio of rational, respectful non-believers vs. mocking and intolerant atheists?
You don't believe in God(s), fine, your problem. You do believe in God(s)? Fine, your problem. Just don't go out of the way to offend others just because a person lives in a different way.
Both sides of the religious discussion would be a hell of a lot nicer and rational if people followed this principle.
