radical atheism will never work because most people need a connection to the world that goes beyond what’s material

What's "radical" atheism? Atheism is not believing in god(s). How do you exceed that? Believing in infinite negative numbers of non-gods? Or do you mean I'm running around trying to convince everyone I know to be an atheist? I don't play with model trains, but feel no need to tell everyone I meet that they shouldn't waste their time with it. Same with religion. Now, if either group tries to coerce me into participating in their favorite pastime, I'll resist. No sirree Bob, not my job.

And what would "moderate" atheism be? Believing in half a god? Not believing but going out of one's way to conceal it? That might be a rational strategy to avoid persecution, but it's not a belief system.

I'm an atheist. I feel a sense of connection to other people and living things and a sense of wonder at nature. I just don't need an alpha male in the sky to personify it. Lack of something unnecesary is not a deficit. There's not a huge void in my life where the Easter Bunny should be.

selling a worldview that cancels that immateriality is doomed to fail

I don't need to assume mythical entities in order to live. If the soul turns out to be a real thing, fine, though there's no evidence for it so far. If it's not, that's fine too. Meanwhile, it's irrelevant.