Odium theologicum

The Latin phrase Odium theologicum, literally meaning "theological hatred", is the special name given to the rancor and hatred generated by disputes over theology. The atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell explained the odium theologicum in the following way:

The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion. ("An outline of Intellectual Rubbish")