Secondly, even if it were true, atheists generally need to be knowledgeable about religion to defend their viewpoint adequately. Finally, some atheists are interested, not in God (since they don't believe in God), but in *religion*, because religion *does* exist, and affects them through its followers.
Yet each man kills the thing he loves--
By each let this be heard...
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!