Atheism has become a political movement for many atheists in the USA. And at the fringes, people treat politics like religion. So the more fervent atheists are, in a sense, acting like they are religious.
ForeverAlone: Why is Lloyd so bent on Kim proving her lawyer status?
He wants focus attention on her credentials and away from his moral failings and legal shenanigans. He might also think he can use the information against her. I think he wants to make it seem that there is something suspicious going on, in the hopes of undermining anything she says. Since his first step was to admit that everything she said was true, it's not a particularly effective approach.