It's a choice, which is frankly imposed on most of us, and some choose to release themselves from its shackles when capable of making an informed decision for themselves.
Did all you mental giants decide in the last ten years to embrace atheism at the same time?
I was an atheist for sixteen years. I was a superior atheist, too.
You show me an atheist, no matter what their IQ, I'll show you somebody whose father has failed them. That's a fact.
You show me an atheist, I'll show you somebody who will worship the State in God's place. That's a fact.
You show me an atheist, I'll show you somebody whose lack of principles to live by and a credo that humbles them before God (being humbled before anybody else is of zero importance) and I'll show you somebody who is fail as a human being.
It's really scary how you all poured in when it became socially safe to do so. I cannot tell you what it feels like to look back and see you all neck deep in that toxic sump I crawled out of holding onto tree roots. The smell and company you keep there alone there should tell you something is wrong.
As for choosing atheism, I'm not sure that ordinary people ever really choose anything. I don't think most of humans are smart enough to be Christians or atheists, it's just what the spirit of the age tells you to do.
no religious signs in public, no religion classes in public schools, no public fundings) since religion is seen as a strictly private matter.
Why I am not surprised? All declining societies become secular right before they all die screaming. It's part of the reason they all die screaming, in fact.
This is very pertinent to this thread.