Pharisees weren't the worst people in the world either, they were rather learned people with a few problems like everyone else. Mostly the problem of their religion and religious order. They were very pragmatic, religiously pragmatic, in other words, they were like Nietzche and all the other pragmatic religious people. And what Christian has ever claimed to hate the Pharisees. Hate them for what? Nietzsche continues to be the biggest 12 year old nihilist 'I'm smarter than everyone' buffoon of the century.
It is this attitude that Atheists have that blocks them. This "Well you're not perfect, so I don't have to be perfect, if Jesus came he'd actually like ME more than you so-called Christian, you sinned before!" Totally missing the whole point, not even understanding the basics and having a complete unforgiving heart. Which is another thing Atheists will do. "I don't care if you claim to have been forgiven by God now, you did sins in your past and I hate you forever and you will never be forgiven just because of Jesus!" And so they themselves are never forgiven because they're so focused on "Well you Christians aren't even perfect and you're telling MEEEE I need forgiveness!!!!!!??"
It's extremely annoying. They have no self reflection. It's true a Disciple should grow in the spirit and the perseverance of the saints and they do. Everyone who has been believed and repented and baptised in the Holy Spirit they do begin to change, they fall sometimes but they continue and they love that Jesus forgives them. While the Atheist stands off to the side pointing fingers never changing. What better image of forgiveness is there than the prodigal son coming back to his father's house after ruining his life, repenting and then being forgiven and rewarded. And what better picture of pride is there, than the older brother, standing outside by the gate, crossing his arms, refusing to go in because his younger brother was forgiven.