Me

For me, it is not a who, but but realization that most (if not all) the thousands of religious "flavors" all think that they are the only ones with the "TRUTH" and getting/deserving everlasting life in "heaven". They can't all be 'right'.

jehova!

My Mother. From the stagnant ‘heartland’ of the USA, she escaped, eventually instilling the concept of Atheism in her children. Her first, I got the largest helping.

Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the woman who stopped forced prayer in the US schools became my second beacon on the subject. Her son Jon, and adopted (bio granddaughter) daughter, Robin, by her side..

Though not having to escape religion, I’ve had to confront it’s ugliness. Still do

Did not need inspiration, contact with religion itself, especially with my religiously inspired schooling was enough.

Bertrand Russell has been a huge influence on my mode thinking generally

No-one. People are inspired or indoctrinated to accepted religion. To deny it for me was a personal choice. A logical one.