Marvin linked to these very interesting and worthwhile essays by someone using the handle Darksyde, which describe what it’s like for an atheist to live in American (or any) society.
What it’s Like to be an Atheist
Not recommended reading for those who don’t want an honest, no-holds-barred look at what it feels like to be in a minority in terms of absence of religious belief. But if you’ve ever wondered why atheists sometimes seem so angry and almost evangelical in their fervor, especially the first essay is worth reading, even if you know you’ll disagree with the author.
And you know, it’s not by accident that this link was posted within the restricted-to-registered-readers section of the site. I don’t think I’d get in trouble where I’m working, but I’ve applied at a Catholic school, and at other schools, and wouldn’t want to lose a chance at a job because of this link. And no, I don’t think that’s a paranoid attitude at all. Names are easy to google. Which only demonstrates something in the first argument for you, right here and now, because I would far prefer to link to these essays publicly.