Why the anger?

Why is it that people are always so defensive about religion. I mean you can criticize the music people listen to, the books they read (as long as it is not the Bible), the movies they like, and the food they eat, and people will just write it off. But the second that you criticize a religion, people freak out. In my opinion this would be because people are aware of the many flaws and falsities within religions and choose to ignore them. When people bring these up religious people like to put the headphones on and not here anything you say. It makes me angry though because it doesn't go both ways. I mean if you are never going to be willing to listen to the argument of another religion or an atheist, why do you expect us to listen to you. I am constantly having people give me flyers trying to convert me to a baptist, JW, LDS, Scientologist. Keep your religion to yourself if you wish for me to keep my atheism to myself.

nicole.