Labels are used as weapons. The word "atheist" is a lightning rod for religious pundits.
The only people who make a big deal out of this are those who have an evangelical agenda.

The reason you hear from Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett, Harris and others is that the Religious Right has grown so obnoxious and strong that they feel it is necessary to push back.

IE: The prejudiced Catholic majority on the Supreme Court who are trying to roll back Roe V. Wade by their new ruling on so-called "partial birth abortions" which are not common and if done it is only to protect the health of the mother or to terminate a life that is fraught with incurable and unbearable physical conditions.

So whether you believe in a god or not, it should not be of concern to anyone.

Frank Hamilton