Whenever I bring up the problem of evil, I get this argument

You're not getting it. This is where the different mindset between the societies lie. 200 years ago, God was the prime mover and mindless submission for the vast majority of the population was normal. Anyone who questioned this was castigated.

In a modern, secular world there's a new normal with individualism in the west anyway.

Yes the rigid thinking and old ways are still prevalent in the minds of those who give this answer.