Capital-A atheism is a dead fad. It was a few years of people loudly dunking on something that that was safe to dunk on. The overall culture found them grating and insufferable, even to other atheists. Over time we swung to the point where you see more discussions like these.

>What's the deal here?

Without making a jab at the bay area culture bubble, I dunno what to tell you.

I don't need religion to be bad, that was Capital-A atheism's thing. I just need it to leave me alone. And it does.

Some people are religious, and a lot of those who are would recommend it. When it comes to defending religion, as an atheist I still think bad takes are bad takes even if they're against the religion I left.