The back lash to the back lash

It has been often mentioned, that the rise and the success (bestseller etc.) of the new prominent atheist (Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, Hitchens) is a back lash because the religious, especially the evangelicals/fundamentalists have become to loud and prominent.
However there seems to be another trend now, coming out from some of the famous freethinkers themselves: Michael Shermer is accusing Dawkins and Harris and others to be too loud and too angry and rather side with the moderates than to make all religious people angry by treating them the same.

http://richarddawkins.net/article,1551,Rational-Atheism,Michael-Shermer-Scientific-American


Sam Harris meanwhile has decided that he doesn't want to be called an atheist or something similar, but rather go underground and just point out unreasonable things to fellow humans: because nobody will say to be against reason:
http://richarddawkins.net/article,1702,n,n

Well, things of course are never easy. While I acknowledge that most people around me are pretty smart and pretty well meaning (they only suspend logical thinking from time to time), I still would fight against them brainwashing my kids and for my right to not be religious without having to hide the fact (to not have disadvantages or worse). I would to be able to call myself an atheist without most people thinking: "an immoral and evil person!".

We will see what the future will bring, but I'm extremely encouraged by the many blogs and other articles of smart people without religion on the web these days.
http://comingoutgodless.blogspot.com/

They are growing by the minute! I have seen big changes in people's opinion happen in a short time, so we will see. On the other hand, churches are such enterprises and social clubs, many people are too busy being involved to find time to think different thoughts!