Respect, like every other privilege, has to be earned. Atheists are not responsible for making
religious believers feel better about their
religion or their theism. Atheists are not
responsible for helping validate religious
theism by treating it with a respect or
deference that it hasn't earned. Atheists
are not responsible for protecting the
feelings of religious theists by not
speaking out, showing where theists
haven't supported their claims or where
they have used poor arguments.
Theists who believe they can't handle
pointed, direct, and even harsh criticism of
their religious and theistic beliefs always
have the option of just not bringing them
up. This is precisely the same choice
facing every person and every belief: you
can either put your belief out in public for
comment and critique, or you can keep it
to yourself. You don't have the option of
putting your belief out in public and then
insisting that everyone respect it or not
criticize it.