In my opinion i think that atheists hate religion due to reason they feel superior and they find it funny the think that many people are deceived in a kind of way.They also believe that the science have tell them the truth about everything and will rule the world with it.
Yes it's Kinda like this, academic want monopoly of knowledge, and absolute power, all the merit of everything that happen etc
I would also distinguish atheist as agnostic, more or less ignorant, dont care about anything and atheist as educated but without religion.
The educated as in scientist should have all reasons to study religion or philosophy too. Science is a branch of philosophy or theology.