Faith is believing in someone or something without any evidence to back that belief. If you choose reason instead of faith, I do not see a justification for admiration nor pity, nor do I think it requires courage, conviction and resolve to choose science, evidence and reason. In fact, it seems logical and full of common sense to choose evidence, science and reason over faith.

I wasn't brought up in the "bible belt", but I like you wasn't raised in a religious household.
And I've also thought, or wondered the same about those who were brought up in that doctrination of whatever belief. I can only go by what others that I've me t along the way have told me.
But to farther, I have really come to find some real life courage in those who did "fall from grace" so to speak. I don't really know what it's like for them, as much as I could try. But those I have gone to know rather well IMHO are beacons of inspiration. It must take a level of "guts" for them to have lived that path.

It's a process and it's different for everyone. One reach a good level of awareness when regardless of the conversation, you know you don't really care and you don't even have to let it show.

That is why I find the religious, " Morality can only come from religion. " so annoying. Since most none believers showed far more moral strength than the faithful ever did, when they chose to leave; and even those who never believed, but only choose not to join in, usually do so mainly for moral reasons.

I agree with you, although after reading the comments here, I might be the only person on this site who does! I just left the "Atheists" facebook group because of how negative and cruel and dismissive people were there, and I see a fair bit of it on this site, too. Many people who believe in God have spent years in church environments, and when you mock them for giving up what is labeled as a "crutch" or a "teddy bear," that's not a particularly warm welcome into the agnostic/atheist community. Many people also seem to feel they are superior to others because they have decided there is no god because they have not seen any evidence of god. No, we're just operating from a different set of assumptions. If we want more people to see the light of non-belief, we should not be condescending to them when they come with questions and need for reassurance.

I agree that it would be virtuous for us to be charitable, understanding and compassionate to "those who had faith and lost it".

But I think apostates don't really lose anything. They give up faith for something better. That something is being evidence based.

I don't see why it would take courage to walk away from anything once you understand and realize it is nothing but absurd BS and nonsense.

I'm extremely happy for those who "had faith and lost it".
We are ALL born atheists, it is our default position. Returning to that
default is the most natural thing in the world.
I will always celebrate a return to reason and logic.

What I always feel most badly about is people having to reconcile the fact
that those closest to them, lied to them. The ones they always trusted to tell them
the truth, encouraged them to believe in delusional bullshit. When they walk away,
they face the disapproval of those closest to them, and often the loss of those relationships.

I don't see losing an imaginary friend as something worthy of lamentation.
Losing family and friends, and sometimes employment, is much more
deserving of sympathy, and support.
That's what I'll offer my support for dealing with.

Good post—we are all different. Be tolerant.