How many theists realize their parents randomly chose a God for them?

Question

Out of all EXISTING religions, and infinite POSSIBLE religions, theists believe the one their parents taught them. Do they realize this when going to their random church?

No, many people don't change religions. That is a very small factor, but good for those who do. Except I have a tough time being in a room with people who become Mormon.

Answer 1

Can you please explain to me then How is it that I was raised Roman Catholic with 13 years of Catholic school yet wind up a Jew? Also can you explain how is it that I know many people who are of a different faith then they were raised in.

Answer 2

Funny story

I grew up in El Salvador, Central America during the 80s and through the mid 90s - I was very young then mind you, but I was also very sheltered as there was a civil war going on through the time I was there.

During the time, the only times allowed out besides going to catholic school (where I was escorted) - was when I was escorted to Church. I went on wed, fri and sat nights, and spent there all day Sunday.

Finally when I turned 13, my parents had signed a divorce agreement when I was little child - that I had the choice of comign to the states if I wanted too. I said sure.

I arrived Thursday at night, stayed at a hotel and drove up from New Orleans to Illinois with my older grandparents. We stayed at a hotel Friday night in southern Illinois - it was the middle of winter and they didn't want to drive in a snow storm.

Come Saturday, I got home, went straight to bed - too exciting.

Sunday mornign I was up, in my church clothes, nocking on my dads door.

He had to explain a 14 year old boy that "religion" was "optional" and that "some people believe" and that "some people do not." That it was not "illegal" or "bad" to do either one, and that the country I was from was a very "religious" country so people there grew up believing it was "just the way it was."

Which is true, many many people there didn't even bother to *think* about it. It's just the way life was.

I cried for a long time. I was hurt and confused.

A few years later I had devoured hundreds of books on religions, and I felt a whole hell of a lot better, free and relaxed - I was happy to know the differences, and I was able to understand from an outside point of view what so many people in this country can't, because of the same issue that I went through.

Answer 3

Good question! Or at least it's a good point.

Except for the first guy, most of the people who have changed religions have only gone from one christian thingy to another. I'm not a theologist so I don't know all about every christian religion, but I know there are at least some differences!

So IMHO, I don't really think someone going from methodist to catholic made a huge leap. They just perhaps didn't like some of the rules and joined a group whose rules they liked better.

In the end, they're still christians and haven't really changed all that much.

Answer 4

Yes I feel that 99% of the people do realize what's going on in this area in a matter of time. You'd have to be fairly brain dead not to conclude that their parents have given them a track to run on. Hopefully stressed to them what's right and what's wrong. There's no doubt this world has gone to hell in a hand basket, but, with the parents of todays children we stand a chance of pulling things back together if they just show their children love, affection and care enough to explain a few things not just hand them a black and white screen telling them this is the way it is and that's that. Explain things to them and don't hesitate to answer questions about it.

Answer 5

What one's religion is is an accident of birth. As in real estate the most important factor is location. Had the Christians on this board been born in Saudi Arabia the would be Muslims.

Answer 6

Dear Furious,

Since many people convert from one Faith, Church, or Religion to another, you need more than this.

Oh, no doubt it's possible for some, since Culture determines so much (the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive), but since people change both those and religious identity, your theory is a failure.

-j.

Answer 7

Haha, you can't choose a God for someone.

Sure, some people's parent believed a certain way, but being taught about God and accepting God are two completely different things.

Whatever a persons beliefs are, are theirs alone. If someone chose a set of beliefs for them, then they are not really their beliefs, now are they?

Answer 8

My parents don't believe in God and church was never even mentioned and I still chose Christianity (after trying a few others first).

Answer 9

I actually find less of this now. Most people that I know that practice a religon, attend something a little different than they were raised. Many have gone from Catholic to Non-Denominational. Many to Born-Again. Some to Chinese Baptist. Even those to Unitarianism.

Answer 10

Yep it extremely is stunning. back while i substitute into an Atheist, i did no longer pick Christ the two. Eris each and each of ways ;) I dunno if Christ is on the backside of my checklist however. Christianity is down there someplace, yet as Rico mentioned, that isn't the fault of the Jesus character, it extremely is how that is organised, and the ridiculous interpretations made some years after Jesus supposedly lived. yet yeah, Allah could be lifeless final on my checklist. The Muslims are crazier than the Christians. perchance much less annoying, yet plenty greater risky and greater durable to settle for.