Question for Religious people......

[Guest NoCalMike]

Does the thought ever cross your mind that the only reason you believe you do is because that is the way your were taught from birth? I mean, do you ever feel that if you were taught to be Muslim or hindu or Jewish from birth that you would be spiritually drawn to christianity, or that you would just go with whatever was taught? I ask because I have a hard time in the concept of good people being cast to hell because of what they were taught to believe in from childhood.......just curious.....

[Guest starvenger]

>Does the thought ever cross your mind that the only reason you believe you do is because that is the way your were taught from birth?

 

Interesting question. Your parents induct you into their religion because they feel that it will help you spiritually as you grow older, so naturally you will tend to believe more strongly in that religion than others.

 

>I mean, do you ever feel that if you were taught to be Muslim or hindu or Jewish from birth that you would be spiritually drawn to christianity, or that you would just go with whatever was taught?

 

You MAY be, but it depends on the individual. Someone who doesn't really connect well with, say, Catholicism may convert to Islam or Budhism or Hindu. It's not unheard of, and if it helps you center your spirit/soul/mind, then it's the right decision for you.

[Guest Mr. Slim Citrus]

Does the thought ever cross your mind that the only reason you believe you do is because that is the way your were taught from birth?

 

No.

 

I wasn't raised to be religious. In fact, when I was your age (and sorry if I'm assuming that you're younger than you are), I considered myself an atheist, too. I didn't start seriously considering religion until after I turned twenty-five... I guess you could say that I believe in God because, on some level, I've always wanted to believe that there is a God.

[Guest hardyz1]

Well, I grew up in Oklahoma in my little nuclear family household and we never went to church. I did believe in God, though. When my parents got divorced, my mom and I moved (long story behind that, don't ask) to PA which is where her side of the family all live. I would have to stay with my grandparents while my mom worked at night, so I was forced to go to church every week. This is just some generic Christian church, BTW. This went on for a few years. As I got older and smarter, I started to drift towards agnosticism, which is sort of where I am now, in that I have no idea if God exists but I want it to be true. Because sometimes I just think of what death would be like if there were no afterlife and I don't really care for it. My logical side keeps saying there is no way God could be real, and then another part of me just sticks its fingers in its ears and says "LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU".

 

A not exact quote from Bill Maher that is sort of close to the topic:

 

"I like God, I just hate the people who work for him."

 

Edit: Fixed a rare spelling error.

[Guest bob_barron]

Does the thought ever cross your mind that the only reason you believe you do is because that is the way your were taught from birth?

I also have to say no. I became religious on my own without any prodding from any family members.

 

When I got my Bar Mitzvah- I did it all on my own and believed what I wanted to believe.

 

I don't know anyone in my family who is very religious, yet I am