At 11 I was aware that religiosity was somehow a taboo subject matter while also being spoken of as an important thing. There was Catholicism, there was something exotic called Protestantism, and there were sporadic mentions of Spiritism (Kardecism), Umbanda and Candomblé. Sometimes people spoke of JW, mainly on TV news, but apparently no one felt inclined to actually explain what they were.
At 22 I was openly atheistic despite having been pushed into Eucharisty around the age of 14. I took pains to be agnostic as well, because I perceived that as a big deal. I had recently left an occultist group (SAW Gnosticism) after a long but mixed participation.
At 33 I was something of a household name on religion and atheism forums. I had learned to value Dharma and sporadically frequented Buddhist centers as well, at one point deciding that a certain center keeper really ought to learn more about the religion that he was supposed to talk about lest he cause lasting damage (he has since retired). I was very, very atheistic.
At 44 I discovered anti-theism and, later, ignosticism and apatheism. I was on the verge of deciding that religiosity is something for people to take responsibiity for instead of using as an excuse to refuse responsibilities. My appreciation of Dharma as an ideal and approach towards religiosity had grown considerably. A few years later I decided that just because some movements are widely regarded as religions it did not follow that I should follow suit. Around the same time I became convinced that laicism and secularism are very much good and necessary things, not least because they are necessary to protect religions. IIRC it was around this time that I had a brief and ultimately fruitless contact with the Bahai Faith.
Currently (not quite 55) I am very, very atheistic indeed. I don't think I could not be an atheist if I felt the need to try. I have indeed come to wonder how often can people be real theists as opposed to people who have learned to claim belief to satisfy social expectations.
I am adamant that atheism is not only not opposed to religiosity, but actually rather benefitial to it. I have no issue pointing out that many movements - even very well-known and influential ones - that dearly expect to be recognized as religions simply are not. I have learned to value individual discernment and insight over adherences. And I wonder how come there are so few people aware of ignosticism.
