Yeah, that was probably more funny in my head than after I said it.
The only thing I find off-putting about them (the mantis, not the athiests) is the large set of jaws/mandibles/whatever on their head. Most people don't like being bitten or thinking about being bitten.
I never heard of anyone being bitten by them....... when I see them, I love to look at them but they're kind of intimidating in the same way....... never even tried to touch them....
generally the most common mantis in the US is the Chinese mantis or the Carolina mantis. I recently bouht a Giant Indian Mantis from some guy i found that sells them online. Most mantis are really tame, but some of the rather large ones (like the one i have) can be rather touchy. Supposedly the giant indian mantis can get over 6", and when threatened it can inflict a quick snap with its forearms that can draw blood. Holy shiit. the pics i got were off his site, of an african mantis. Slightly smaller, but it's really vivid in color.
its a cool site, and you can buy some really crazy looking mantis off there. When the Phyllocrania paradoxa are ready (he said in a few weeks) i wanna try and get one of those too. Crazy looking mantis, absolutely crazy, these things take camoflage to the extream. Well, technically its not camoflage (camo is something to add to conceal yourself, animals are born with it), but i cant remember the world for whatever animals use.