Should we be suspicious of the validity of a life changing decision that we made as a 5 or 10 year old?

We understand enough about cognitive development to recognize that the brain is not developed adequately to exercise critical thinking, the relationship between actions and consequences, long term thinking and impulse control at that young age. In fact biologically these higher cognitive functions generally are not fully developed until about the age of 19 or 20. As result claims that one came to atheism due to logical and critical thinking at such a young age are to be recognized as dubious. Not that the person making the claim does not believe it or is being deliberately dishonest as much as that is backfilled as the person grows older and they actually remember it that way. The same can be said of the religious.

Probably the easiest way to distinguish the reality of the situation is the person will say they believe because of rational thinking or logic but are unable to articulate in details exactly why they believe what they believe but instead speak in platitudes and generalities, or you off the shelf arguments that have become more mantra than anything else.

It could be fairly stated that these peoples minds are closed, and they are not disposed to look at their own position with honest criticism so it is probably a waste of time going in that direction. The mind is very powerful and many people over time develop false memories that are so vivid and so ingrained that they don't realize they are false. This is often the case with zealots be they religious zealots or anti-religious zealots.

You should really stop beating that horse, Matt. It's been dead for years.

Most atheists i've heard describe their deconversion did so during their teens or college years. only a few became atheists as children, and even fewer never believed at all. Lucky bastards.

Once our brains start maturing, the decisions we make about these things are perfectly validated. In the case of atheists, I've yet to run into one that wouldn't change their beliefs were evidence of an opposing viewpoint presented.

The same cannot be said for theists. You people cling to your BS in the face of all logic, and will probably enter the void after experiencing your subconscious mind's hallucinations as you die. I'd feel bad about you all being disappointed once you realize you're utterly wrong, but then I remember you'll be dead, and won't care.

I don't think it was as much of a "rejection of faith" as it was a simple examination of one's own beliefs and the realization that one did not believe in a god, or gods. Then, when nothing arises to change that realization, when no proof arises and it still seems as utterly silly as it did before, there's simply no reason to stop disbelieving.