When I hear the term “puritan” my immediate assumption is that the speaker has no actual knowledge or insight or experience regarding Christianity, Christian practices, Christian theology, or Christians as people. I assume the speaker does wish to signal a kind of non-christian lifestyle but simply has no actual clue.
i usually see the term “puritan” as a type of person who wants to be seen as progressive or pretends to be progressive, but still deals with or tries to infiltrate reactionary ideas of religion and the habit of associating sabotage activities of third parties and unusual exceptions like the general way of being:
“yeah, i support feminism, but…everything now are false rape accusations, cancel culture and the women high standards!” like it was something implicit in feminism and not liberal deviations
“yeah, i’m for lgbt rights, but…trans people on the internet are so obnoxious (on my discord), and gay people want to make everything about their sexual tendencies!” assuming like every lgbt person was a flamboyant cartoon like mr. garrison from south park or a weird fella they know on discord or reddit who defines as a “trans nazi” or a “uwu anime kitty”