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Back when I was religious, I initially just believed everything, and worked hard to optimize my life based on those beliefs. After some exposure to some atheists online, and realizing that a significant number of scientifically minded people were irreligious, I started inventing apologetics for explaining why I had those beliefs. I was concerned about the loss of social status that being religious might bring me, and wanted to mitigate that risk by having some ready arguments. I never really bothered reading much apologetics, though.

I didn't become an atheist because of this, and I didn't feel like I really had any doubts at this point. What did actually change my mind several months later was noticing that my religious morality was highly incompatible with my intuitive morality.