The trouble with having a "genuine discussion" is that such a thing would be acceptable to religion only when engaged in on its terms. The very word "atheist" immediately shifts us on to their territory. What price genuine discussion then? Religion doesn't want genuine discussion with people not of their faith, as has been abundantly proven down the years. Religion wants itself to be humanity's default. The upfront attacks on organised religions we see today, predicated as they are on rationality, not militancy, are healthy, long overdue, and should scare no-one of faith who enjoys genuine intellectual security therein. By fretting about "militant atheists" you simply betray that you don't have that security.