Most Christians become Christians when they're children
Most Atheists become Atheists when they're adults
So, how could Christianity not be a children's belief?
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2006-07-21 06:21:05 · 37 answers · asked by Black Atheist 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'd say that Christianity is more childish, but many Christians convert from Atheism or other religions as adults. I think your hypothesis is a little flawed.
2006-07-21 06:26:42 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You said - "Most Christians become Christians when they're children"
I've seen nothing to substantiate this belief. Christianity is not a birthright, it's a choice; And like any other choice requires an acknowledgement via a functional mind and a decision.
Most of the Christians I've known were atheists or agnostics prior to making the choice to become Christians as adults.
You can argue, however, that having the faith of a child is extremely beneficial in a walk with Christ.
2006-07-21 06:31:56 · answer #2 · answered by Z33K Zmorphod 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you become Christian, you are as children meaning that you have the innocence of a child. Ppl of all ages become Christain. It can only happen when you have heard God's word and are able to comprehend and apply it to your life. This can happen in a min. or it may take years for the full meaning to reach you. Then you start growing in knowledge by studying His word and by telling others. Atheists have built up a hardend heart from being hurt ,sometimes it fromagrowing Christian who hurts them unintentionally or a false christian who is trying to confuse them,and/or abandoned from emotional nurturing,or a host of other things that has made them make that choice.A child isn't hardened and can fully accept God's love without fear of being hurt.That is the reason I believe you can call Atheism an adults belief. I know that my atheist uncle's funeral was the saddest I have ever been to. There were no prayers, no hymns of encouragement, just a few ppl from the groups and clubs that he was a part of saying what he meant to them and their group. He was a good & highly intelligent man who raised funds for needy but it is so sad to know that he didn't make the decision to accept Christ.I hope this helps you.
2006-07-21 06:56:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not true that most Christians become Christians as children. That is your thoughts... but it isn't true. There are a lot of adults that come to the truth in their later years. Some even in their teenage years. Besides, a lot of adults make sure that when they are older they research their belief a little bit.
I have learned... and this is just as big of a generalization as your question was.... that a lot of Athiests... don't believe because of something that they went through. Something that they couldn't possibly understand and they blamed it on God. Therefore... making them decide that there is no God.
2006-07-21 06:23:02 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a sense in which this is true. The Bible says that we have to come to God with "the faith of a little child." Of course there are many people who come to Christ as adults, but to do so requires that they lay down their will and accept that God knows better than they do, and that can be very difficult for adults to do.
The Bible also teaches that those who become "wise in their own eyes" find it very difficult to believe and trust God. "Professing to be wise, they became fools," "Knowledge puffs up." The more we become puffed up with our own reasoning and knowledge, the more we think we know better, and the more likely we are to reject God and become atheists. That's why it really takes an adult to truly determine "there is no God."
That doesn't mean you can't be a thinking or an educated person to believe in God (I have an M.A. and can debate quite intelligently when I need to, and I am a follower of Jesus Christ). A thinking person can weigh all the evidence, but since it's impossible to "prove" the existence of God, there comes a time when a person has to choose to take a step of faith and surrender their will to God's. When someone does that, God takes the next step and makes things clear in a way an unbeliever can never understand.
2006-07-21 06:34:31 · answer #5 · answered by happygirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't even go to the site. To answer this, I don't have to read what someone else wrote. Christianity and Atheism (as well as any other religion) are dependent upon the person. Everyone is different. I think anyone can believe anything, no matter their age. And I fell like any belief should be accepted, whether you agree with it or believe that way or not. None of us has any way of knowing which one is right or wrong, or if any of them are. I just accept everyone for who they are, and I choose to believe in God and Christianity.
2006-07-21 06:26:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
False.
Although I think you have an interesting thought.
Becoming an adult often brings about doubts in the world. If you think of a child, they will not question who God is (for the most part), but later in life they will wonder if he exists at all. It's almost like doubt rots faith.
PS - Christianity is a children's belief, but you can't use AND or OR to prove adults aren't too.
2006-07-21 06:24:54 · answer #7 · answered by Molly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
False... but only because you expressed the question poorly. Atheism is not a 'belief'. Someone does not make a transition from the 'childish' belief (Christianity) to an 'adult' belief... one merely dispenses with the childish belief.
Of course, in order to dispense with the childish belief (Christianity), it is necessary to use certain intellectual tools... reason, logic, critical thought... to examine those childish beliefs. It is a sad fact, though, that somewhere around 87% of the population of the USA seems to not have access to (or, for some reason, neglects to use) those intellectual tools... and so, these childish beliefs persist thought their entire lives.
2006-07-21 06:30:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
False. Sorry, but this rationale stinks. I don't know where you got this info from, but it's a oversimplified generalization of Christians. Same for atheists.
Many Christians (in fact, most of the Christians at my church) became Christians when they were adults. Some were "raised Christian" but not really into it until they got older and began to develop a personal relationship with God.
I don't know about atheists, but it's likely that many of them were disillusioned children growing up in "Christian" households and grew to reject their family's religion. And it's also likely that many atheists became atheists when they were adults because they never really thought about God when they were kids. At that age you aren't too deep on spiritual matters.
2006-07-21 06:28:14 · answer #9 · answered by ATWolf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm of a mind to agree with Yoda Green. I am also shocked by how many people seem to think more people become Christians as adults rather than children. Sure there are people that become Christians as adults, but there are FAR more that do so as children.
2006-07-21 06:45:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person does not become a Christian when they are baby simply because their parents are Christians...God does not have grandchildren only children.
A person needs to acknowledge and accept Jesus into their heart and ask for forgiveness before they become a Christian.
If it was according to your question children would be smarter than adults and in many cases they are!!
2006-07-21 06:37:10 · answer #11 · answered by Commander 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋