""There are plenty like him who are told to go around claiming atheism is a threat, that Christians are being persecuted etc. it doesn't help the cause of those who genuinely believe all that stuff but don't see the need to influence those who don't.""

They have to claim they are being persecuted, because they cannot stand being ignored.

Why else do they feel a constant need to stick pins in others, than to get a hostile reaction?

Don T.