I've never known an angry atheist, as least on a personal basis. They certainly exist...but then, so do angry fanatical believers of all stripes.
The larger point: for a person to say that there isn’t a higher existence takes as much of a leap of faith as person who believes in a higher existence.
I agree, which is why I don't affirmatively deny a higher existence; I just have no belief in it.
It also depends on what you define as a religion, too: 1. organized religion and the dogma and ritual that goes with it or 2. a higher, generalized belief in a “creator.” An observation that the universe and its laws are not random and therefor there is a plan and a planner.
I would tend to prefer the first definition. #2 sounds more like Deism, which is more of a philosophical viewpoint than a religion per se.
Fanatics... I have met a couple. I have met a few fanatical Christians, too.
“I agree, which is why I don’t affirmatively deny a higher existence; I just have no belief in it.”
Interesting. Makes sense. And an important distinction.
So are you an agnostic?