Speaking of demonizing atheists, I'm remembering the Chick Tracts I used to read as a kid in Baptist churches. Chick Tracts were (are, the company still publishes sometimes) a series of palm-sized picture booklets written and illustrated by a man named Jack Trick, purportedly for the purpose of proselytizing.

I could go on and on about them for many reasons, but one thing I'm remembering right now is how they portrayed Madeline Murray O'Hara, a prominent atheist of the late 20th century.

Chick drew her as extraordinarily ugly and diseased, showing demons and even Satan possessing her and feeding her words to speak.

He made her look as loathsome and dangerous as possible.

That's how I grew up to view atheists.