Why have atheists created this word for themselves? Methinks that they protest to much.?

What is it about the possibility of an afterlife that frightens them so much that they brand themselves as non believers? There is no evidence? Never will be any evidence? As a modern thinker I don't discount anything, My vision is not restricted and I am aware of the possibility of anything whether it appears daft or not.At the moment I am working on the possibility as to whether atheists are completely normal and that they are not just crying for attention like a child. What do you think my 21st century modern thinkers?