Americans have no love for atheists, so it is no wonder so many shed the term for “nicer” sounding adjectives like humanist, bright, and secular.

These terms are less polarizing to many, and help people avoid uncomfortable confrontations but as David Silverman points out in his new book Fighting God, this is just atheists giving into religious demands, playing by religious rules and pandering to religious feelings. It also does a great disservice to those who do use the word atheist when it is the most honest descriptions of who they are.

Fighting God is the atheist manifesto it sets out to be, making one of the most compelling cases for not only using the word atheist openly and proudly but also because he makes the strongest case I have yet to read for why firebrand, in-your-face atheism is not only vital but absolutely necessary to further atheist acceptance in the world.

Atheists have attacked Silverman and American Atheists for its tactics in setting up billboards proclaiming that “You Know It’s a Myth” or filing lawsuits against the US Government for putting an iron crossbeam decorated to look like a Christian cross in the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Yet Silverman uses data to explain why this kind of activism is working and how it is changing the face of atheism in the public’s eye forever. While humanist groups and those who take a more interfaith approach have an important role in our community, Silverman believes no real change could come unless groups like American Atheists knock down a few walls first.

He cites the Boston Marathon bombing and how the Harvard Humanist group was blocked from attending the interfaith service that was attended by President Obama after asking politely to be included, but making almost no noise when told no. The polite method didn’t work, but in many other cases of exclusion, American Atheists, Silverman and other loud and outspoken atheist activists have made a lot of noise and forced those who shut us out to address us.

That’s what Fighting God is all about. Inspiring those who want to make noise to make it, and to encourage those who don’t, to start. To be heard and defend your rights as an American citizen and not cave to the demands of religion that say we should fall in line, use words they like and not be involved in times of tragedy if they decide they don’t want us.

This book says we have had enough of this religious privilege in the US and it is time for action, real action, and Silverman knows people are not going to like it, but in order to enact real and meaningful change, atheists are going to have to piss people off from time to time.

Just as Sam Harris’ The End of Faith and Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion changed the face of atheism forever, Fighting God changes the face of atheist activism and throws off the gloves once and for all and takes the hardest swing at religious privilege to date.

If the religious right has one book to fear, Fighting God is that book.