Militant? atheism

The phrase militant atheist is often used to describe atheists like Richard Dawkins who are well known for actively and publicly speaking out against religion, no violence, no threats, not even emotional manipulation just cold hard reasoning and facts.

If however I use the phrase militant Muslim, the first thing most people thing of is the jihadi lunatics in Al Quida and the taliban, that is a huge difference in behaviours yet both are described by the same word.

One more common example, militant Christian, this reminds me of all the dicking about between Catholics and Protostants in Ireland, the Crusades and those such as the Dove Outreach Centre and Westboro Baptist church who while they don't go round murdering people are still bigoted hateful lunatics.

Now for something you probably haven't heard before militant Buddhist, what springs to mind?

Probably a far eastern guy with a bald head and orange robes, but here is the important part. Is he peacefully talking about how great Buddhism is, fanatically preaching how all the non Buddhists will suffer and deserve it or brandishing an AK-47.

Just my thoughts on how the term militant atheist seems to be yet another approach to tar atheists with the same brush as the worst religion has to offer, despite the fact no atheist has ever done anything evil to promote atheism. Although I must admit there have been atheists who were real dicks for other reasons.