How common is it for people raised in non-religious households to become religious?

Question

Okay, so we all know that people raised in religious households (Catholic, Baptist, Jewish) frequently reject their home religion later in life to become athiests, agnostics, or spiritual but not religious. But how often do people who were raised in non-religious households become religious? I don't necessarily mean conversion because of marriage; I'm mostly referring to one's own free will. Is this common? Any links to articles or personal stories to share? Thanks.

Answer 1

I suspect it's uncommon. It's also uncommon (still) for those raised in devout households to become agnostics or atheists.

For the record, we four siblings were raised Catholic. One sister and I are now atheists; our other sister is still Catholic although she can't stand her parish priest and doesn't attend that church any more; and our brother is some strain of baptist, I think he picked it up in college.

Answer 2

I was raised in a liberal Jewish Household. Celebrated the usual Jewish holidays and forced to go to synagogue on the high holy days. Even as a child I didnt fit into any sort of worship or organized religion. I march to my own drum now and consider myself a natural spiritualist.

Answer 3

I'm 58 and have literally known thousands of people. I have never met one person who was raised in a non-religious household who accepted religion as an adult unless it was the result of marriage or other external circumstance that caused them to adopt religion to further a business or political goal (such as George Bush).

The claim that non-religious people adopt religion as adults may be true, but it is an extremely rare occurrence. The majority of people I've known rejected religion (became "non-practicing") when they became adults. And those who continued to practice religion did so for the same reason as those who adopted it, i.e., business or political.

Answer 4

Personally I don't think it's that common.
While there are converts, most remain atheist/agnostic.

Where I live in the UK, almost all children whether in a religous family or not, are all turning atheist anyway. So here we have the reverse it is very common for children born in religous families to actually give up religion when they become old enough to make that decision - I did, as did all my friends.

I was raised RC as were my brother and sister. Now all of us, including my mum are atheists, only my dad remains half-believer/agnostic.

Answer 5

I was raised in a non-religious family.
I found Christ at age 10 -- by my own free will @ Vacation Bible School...
I strayed until I was 17... then I began attending church again (on my own free will ... w/ out my family)
I was baptized at age 20...
It is possible if you let the Lord find you.
:)

Answer 6

I don't really think it's common...but it does happen. I'm living proof.

I wasn't brought up in a Christian/Religious home. I never attended church. I didn't go to Sunday school, and my attitudes 'use to be' that Christians are fanatics/desperate/Bible Thumpers, etc...

than God used a friendship I had with a Christian to witness to me. I started asking myself if there was really more to life than plain "existance"...and other deeply personal questions like:

* What defines "Good" if there isn't an opposing force ("EVIL")
* If God is 'Good' -- than what's 'Evil'? (Satan.)
* If God loves everyone, than why does bad stuff happen?
* Why did I believe, or not believe (in my case) in the stuff I did?

...then I start reading the Bible, and asking God to help me understand it (if he really existed)...and he did. Before that, i never understood. (So yeah, there's truth to it!!!)

Yes, I started attending church after that - I eventually found a church that is legit, and one that conforms to the Bible...I'm not saying everyone there is in 'tune' with God; none of us are perfect, but we are a "work in progress"

(sorry for straying from the question a little...forgive my ramble.)

God bless.

Answer 7

I was raised religion-less (not atheist, no, just without any religion). Later on, I found wicca, then agnosticism. Now I am a spiritual atheist.

My brother, I suspect is now a catholic, as he married a sweet catholic woman which I adore. :-) I say "suspect" cuz in my family, we don't discuss religion----it just isn't an issue when it comes to family and love. :-)

Answer 8

i'd say that it's more common than people in religious households because a kid in a non religious household doesn't have the stuff crammed down his throat every day. there are a lot of violent criminals and drug addicts who came up through the church.

Answer 9

No, it is not common

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Answer 10

I was raised in a nonreligious household and fond my way on my own.