Atheists are the most despised religious minority according to polling. They are a very small % of the U.S. population, yet I constantly read about them in the conservative press. They seem some commentators favorite bogeyman, despite their ‘invisibility’ in prominence, numbers, influence, etc.
I think the pollster is not separating the idea “God doesn’t exist” from those who accept that philosophy.
Religious people will, of course, reject that as an abominable notion. At the same time, most Christians I’ve ever met absolutely loved talking to atheists. Made them think they’d done their daily duty.
They didn’t dislike the people at all. (With the exception of Richard Dawkins who practices at being insulting.)
In the case of radical cultists, they really believe those to be dangerous people.