I think that I probably followed a similar path in my transition from theist to atheist. Hiwever, I made the transition my first year in college. I do not know if I was aware as to the fact that I was probably a natural skeptic. I went on to become an archaeologist and geologist. The skepticism is an important part of bring a good scientist. So it ultimately helped me in my science fields. I later became a science teaCher at both the high school snd college levels.

I've always sought to understand things as I see them. Mom taught me not to believe in magic, but tried to teach me to believe in fundamentalist Christianity. I left the nest an agnostic.

I was brought up as a Hindu but I went to a Roman Catholic primary school. I was taught at home that Hinduism true and one of the reasons was that it was the oldest religion which I later realised that this was a logical fallacy.
Also during primary around age 10/11 I started to read science books so I was gaining knowledge about how the world worked. (I was more fascinated by space section of the encyclopedia which hooked me at first).
It was only when I was in secondary (high school) that I actually started to think for myself and start to ask questions regarding religion. It just didn't make any sense to me.
So I reckon that skepticism started first which then led me to atheism

I have never believed.

A tie

Being asked to recite the Hail Mary aged 12 so i could return to my home in a catholic ghetto after visiting protestant friends. Politics, Northern Ireland style. Buying my first record around the same time, second hand copy of 'shaved fish' a John Lennon collection which included 'Woman is the nigger of the World'.I became both an atheist and a socialist simultaneously.

Agreed. I was aways asking questions and being told to just have faith. So I did the research and decide God is made up. As a kid, I wanted to belive in God and magic, but I was never satisfied with what I saw. So now I play God as a D&D Dungeon Master!

I was introduced to theology on the first day I could recall anything by a pious chaplain who thought she was praying over a coma patient. Because I was skeptical about what she was saying, I was a skeptic mere seconds before I became a non-theist.

I have always been a 'but why?' kind of person. So I would say the Skeptic came first. Poorly reasoned answers lead to atheism.

Great post. I would say my love for Science was the first seed see there as a child abs nurtured by mother. Then came skepticism sparked by shows like Penn and Tellers Bullshit. Finally after applying my skepticism outward it was time for my biggest obstacle...myself and so atheism was a natural evolution.