I have been an atheist since second grade. For a long time, I was militant - probably due to frustration caused by the marginalization which followed from holding significantly different beliefs than those around me (including my parents, friends, etc.)

Recently, I have become significantly more interested in how to approach religion (and all informal belief including, but not limited to, cultural valuation, common political stances, etc.) through understanding the mental processes which enable it. What are the primary emotional, social, and intellectual pressures which enable one to hold a fundamentally untenable position? What structures does one build to "guard" one's religion?

The ultimate goal of my thinking on the subject is the creation of a sort of "primer" which can be used to allow people of all faiths, including but not limited to Christianity, to think more constructively about their beliefs. If they "become atheists" (whatever that means) then that's great. Really, I'd just like it if people were able to express themselves and understand others more easily. My belief is that a lack of theism follows from clear understanding and communication. Theism is not a disease, it is a symptom (and funnilly enough, many in the "atheist community" suffer from the same diseases which cause it).