"As an atheist (I refuse the term "agnostic", it seems cowardly, somehow) I do not completely deny the possibility of the existence of a deity, I just recognize that I can't see any evidence for it, and I cannot
blindly accept anyone else's evidence just on the strength of their word."

Well, I'm a agnostic, and I don't think it has anything to to do with being a coward.

I think generally speaking, atheist are reacting against a particular religion. And the word atheist is simply a combination of "a" and "theist" in same way the word amoral comes from "a" and moral:

" a- 1 or an-
pref.
Without; not: amoral.

a-
A prefix meaning "without" or "not" when forming an adjective (such as amorphous, without form, or atypical, not typical), and "absence of" when forming a noun (such as arrhythmia, absence of rhythm). Before a vowel or h it becomes an- (as in anhydrous, anoxia)."
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/a-

Now, in my case I grew up without any religious influence- my parents never went to church, nor did they sent us to any. Now, my father did belong to the Masons- though I don't think he was really into it that much about it, unlike my grandfather who became some high level person. And I don't think I have ever heard my grandfather mention God- other than to swear. Discussing anything to do with Mason "theology" just did not happen- though if asked about it one would get some answer, but in general simply wasn't very interested.
On my Mother's side, my grandmother might have tendency to talk about religion if she was very drunk- she was quite fond of sherry. I believe one occasion she when was drunk asked me [I was around 10 year old], to believe in Jesus Christ. It was somewhat shocking because she didn't go to church and gave no indication [when not drunk] that she was vaguely interested in topic.
In school, I believe some mornings in early elementary school we would all stand up and say the Lord's prayer. It didn't mean much to me- other than I didn't know the prayer and sort mumbled the best I could thru it. I also remember being at friend's house and having these people say grace before dinner- which was also somewhat of a weird experience for me. I think the first time I ever entered a church was for wedding or something- some time before I was a teen. And I remember when was around 14 year old I deliberately entered a church simply out curiosity and sort of a prank.
So, other than TV, movies, reading books, and some times friends trying to convince me of their beliefs- and was more curious than in any way persuaded- I lived pretty much a very secular life.