People
“He says gods like to see an atheist around. Gives them something to aim at.”
— Terry Pratchett ‧ Small Gods
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The idea that gods enjoy having an atheist around sounds unexpectedly welcoming, until the last sentence explains why. 'Something to aim at' turns apparent tolerance into a threat. The joke gives divine power a distinctly touchy streak, with disbelief treated as a convenient target.
Context reviewed