Christians, If you were born somewhere else like the Middle East or India would your faith be different?

Question

As Christians, you (were probably raised to) believe that every other religion is wrong. But if you were born in the Middle East (and were raised) as a Muslim or in India (and were raised) as a Hindu, would you still have such faith in Christianity?

Do you see that Christianity is just another religion and that there are about a thousand different religions and faiths. What makes Christianity the best? And don't bring the Bible or Jesus into it, because every religion has it's holy book and god.

Give me one good reason why Christianity is better than say Judaism or Scientology. And then give me one good reason why any religion is better than the other. See how absurd the whole idea of religion is in the first place?

And I'm targeting Christians because Yahoo Answers is only available in the United States, where the center of Christian extremism is. Plus, there are way too many questions posted by Christians about how their faith is the best. Please stop promoting lies!

Answer 1

I'm not a Christian (though I was born and raised as one), but I have to answer. You have really hit the nail on the head. Coming to see the truth of what you're saying is one of the major reasons that I ultimately rejected Christianity. I can't believe that so many people don't see this. I guess the reason is some combination of: (1) religious brainwashing; (2) lack of a really broad education; (3) lack of exposure to people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, etc. (4) an unwillingness to question things; to critically examine certain claims and so on. Don't people realize that they believe they way they do largely because of where they were born and raised, who their parents are and so on and not because what they believe is "The Truth" or better in some sense than what other religions believe.

I would put this question to followers of all religions. These days, I especially wish the Muslims (and especially fundamentalist Muslims) would consider this.

PS: I should add that there is a lot of wisdom in a lot of religious teachings and practices, but one doesn't have to accept the mythology associated with some religion to believe and follow them. The good ones, the ones worth following, stand on their own.

Answer 2

First of all, you don't know that Christianity is a lie. If it is, then you are promoting lies. However, we both truly believe what we believe, therefore our possible lies are said in the best possible way, are they not?

If I was born somewhere different, there is a good chance that I would believe something different. However, to be born somewhere different, would I be me? I'm assuming that you are an atheist, and thus believe in evolution. Therefore, I am simply what my genes and environment have made me, and different genes and a different environment would actually make me someone else. (Unless of course, you are willing to admit that I have a soul and that there is more out there, then maybe my soul could inhabit another body...) But anyways, this is why Christians are supposed to proclaim to all nations, so that everyone gets to hear the good news.

Now the reason Christianity is "better" than Judaism is because we believe in Jesus. Jesus is the promised messiah of the old testament, fufilled all the prophesies and we believe that He is the Son of God. Now, Judaism was the "better" religion before the birth of Jesus, but Jesus was our final sacrafice and we only need to repent and believe in Him.

Now I don't know much about Scientology. I've heard that it's a way to better your life, or that it's a cult involving aliens of some sort. What I do know, is they are inconsistant even on the first page of their website:

"Man is an immortal, spiritual being." is the first sentence of the third paragraph. Observe the first sentence of the very next paragraph:

"In Scientology no one is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith."

Obviously it is neccesary to BELIEVE that man is an immortal spiritual being. That can't be proven. At least Christianity is up front about faith. "He who believes and is baptised, shall be saved." I don't know much else about Scientology so I can't say much more without going into rumours of cult stuff, etcetera.

BTW, I'm in Canada, so I'm thinking that Yahoo Answers is also available here... And I go to it off the Yahoo Canada webpage so I don't think this is an American only zone...

Answer 3

No, or at least not until I was old enough to become educated on something other than force-fed Islam or Hinduism. Most people believe whatever their parents teach them. I think that would likely apply across most cultures.

You used the phrase "Christian Extremism". I find this intriguing. When I think of that, I think of the crusades or witch hunts hundreds of years ago, but you seem to use it in the present tense. This is an era of complete religious freedom, where now (more than any other time in history) people are free to believe in ANYTHING they want... or even create their own religions just like L. Ron Hubbard did on his Scientology acid trip. Everyone on this site that participates in these religious discussions is exercising that freedom. Even so, anyone (Christian or otherwise) that is passionate about their faith is hardly an extremist, regardless of how cruel and heartless their words may be. When people use their religion to justify violence, that is the birth of extremism.

With that said, there is no 'best' religion in the eyes of all humanity, and there never will be. As for 'promoting lies', anytime someone believes in something you don't, people will interpret that as lies and propaganda. I don't condemn anyone's personal beliefs or think that my choice is the only right one. Unlike most people on this site, I don't expect the world to agree with me. You can't force Jesus or Allah or Xenu on everyone. Faith (or the absence thereof) is a personal choice that should be influenced only by your heart.

Answer 4

If I was born in the Middle East or India, I would most definately believe in my religion( Muslim or Hindu) , and would probably disagree with Christianity. Obviously you wouldnt believe in anything else, because all you would know is your own religion. What we know about Christianity now wouldnt matter because if we werent christian and never exposed to it, then obviously we wouldnt have the same feelings and beliefs that we do now!

Nothing makes Christianity the best, we are all Gods people and as long as we believe in him, then nothing else matters! I truely believe that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all true religions, because they are all very similar. Even though they are different, they all follow similar paths!

oh yeah, Yahoo Answers is international..available in almost every country...not just the US! (I have a UK yahoo)

Answer 5

I was not raised in a Christian church and was raised that everyone is entitled to there own belief. I can't tell you what my religion would be if I would have been born somewhere else but I can tell you that I do respect other religions or lack there of.

I am now a Christian and I can only tell you what is in my heart. For me, Christianity "feels right". It makes my heart sing. I was angry and bitter before, I hated myself and most everyone else. Now I know that there is someone who loves me unconditionally and forgives me before I even ask, who will pick me up every time I fall.

If other religions make followers feel the same, I find no fault. I only know what is right for me.

Answer 6

These People are complete MORONS!!!!!!!!!! If any of the actually think they would convert to Christianity because they were written in a book or some crap like that then they are sadly mistaken. Typical stupid thinking...First off they could be born anywhere else and they wouldnt believe in Christianity..they could be born in the middle of the Amazon rainforest where they worship trees or something and they wouldn't know the differnce between a bible and a piece of toilet paper. Its all about where you live and what you grow up with..just like muslims believe it cuz they are raised with it or surrounded by it...its all you know! that right there should be enough to prove that ALL RELIGION IS FAULTED! and more likely then not ...completely FAKE!! People make me so sick....how could they be so dumb!

Answer 7

If I were raised in a Muslim Religion I would no doubt be a Muslim. But with what I know now I would be one of those Muslims turned Christian because I am by Nature a seeker of the Truth, and When God calls one to Christ , it always leads to study. I was raised believing much different than I do now,

Answer 8

This is a good question for people to consider since most people just belong to the religion that their parents have. Most people do belong to the majority religion, and that's why it's the majority.

I would think that these people, who just go along with what the group is doing or what their parents did, would belong to the dominant religion in other areas as well. Then, if they were a different religion, they would scream that that religion is the correct one and all others are wrong. (That is unless they were brought up in a tolerant faith that didn’t require the discrediting of other religions.)

Answer 9

Great question. Christians tend to be christians because they were born and raised that way. They were brought up with a religion that tells them to belive in it unconditionally. Since they are unquestioning people, if they had been born in the middle east, they would equally be following Islam with the same fervour, claiming THAT was the one true religion.

Answer 10

Don't bring the bible or Jesus into it? I like how you ask a question, but then qualify how someone may answer it.

And, sorry, but I am going to bring the "bible into it". God's word says....that He will call people out of all nations, tribes and tongues. People from all over the world come to follow Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter if you are born in India, Japan, Russia. If God knows you are one of His, He will find you.

It's not a matter of what religion is "better". It's about what is true. I pray that God will show you His truth, and I ask this....in Jesus name!