Is there a tendency towards religious belief that is inherently strong in some people and weak or non-existent in others, or are our worldviews influenced largely by the environment we grow up in - family, society, the media and so on?
2006-08-19 13:57:59 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm inclined to agree with yellowcab - there must be at least some inherited tendency to be susceptible to religion.
2006-08-19 14:13:37 · update #1
I believe that there are some inherited characteristics that can make an individual more susceptible to the influence of religion. However, in the end, it is up to the individual.
2006-08-19 14:04:56 · answer #1 · answered by yellowcab208 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we are all curious by nature as to why and how we came into existance. So if you took a child who is a "blank slate" and set them on an island with no one to speak to and let them grow up isolated, there is every reason to think they would eventually begin to question the same things. They would then, more than likely, come up with their own ideas for an answer. Since man is, by nature, a social creature, it is likely that whatever there answer was, it would consist of some diety with physical characteristics of something they were familiar and comfortable with. Could be the great cosmic pineapple, or the omnipresent coconut. Would not matter what they called it, they would be assigning a "name" to their "GOD" and would then more than likely pay homage to said diety in some way, shape, or fashion. But this is only MY personal opinion.
2006-08-20 18:08:51 · answer #2 · answered by mortgagegirl101 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people take the easy road of least resistance and do what there parents did before them. You tell me what do I believe? A thinking person surveys all the options. And says:
How is that religion working for the people that is in it?
Is it making them better people? Has it been a wonderful influence in there lives or a negative one. Are they smarter because of it or appear to be less educated.
God wants us to use the brain that is why he gave us one.
Is my religion helping the people to be more creative?
To use there talents to the full?
2006-08-19 21:07:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both. We have active imaginations and tend to make up answers when we have no information. People naturally have a bias against saying "I don't know". And they also have a bias towards anthromorphizing and exaggerating things.
That said, everybody is born an atheist. Nobody has any belief in any particular god at birth. That is usually indoctrinated by the parents or learned elsewhere in life.
2006-08-19 21:03:09 · answer #4 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Made of course. I born in a mostly Catholic country and that is the reason to be educated with this believes. If I where born in India, Pakistan or China the story will be very different.
We all born atheist and the society put stupid religious believes in our minds.
2006-08-19 21:16:57 · answer #5 · answered by Lost. at. Sea. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God will raise up whom ever from where ever without any limitations that that we make.
But I think the following applies to the average "uncalled". As we grow up some ppl are able to view their own gifts or other persons share what they see. That is part of it. The other part is if a purpose has grabbed them that is larger than their own life and then they go for the gold, getting educated or whatever. That applies to any profession.
2006-08-19 21:09:44 · answer #6 · answered by rapturefuture 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An excellent Q not easily answered. While it is true there are many ingredients to our character; place of birth, parents, natural born temperment, genes, traumatic experiences and other learning experiences, etc etc. Belief in God seems to transcend all those things. But i can tell you that the Lord said this...
Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. -1 Samuel 2:30
God seems to leave it completely up to the individual whether they want to follow him or not. If he does, he has help in store for him. If not, he has allowed people to follow crazy philosophies, idolatry, and religions. but Godliness cannot be attained through the world.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. -1 Corinthians 1:21
2006-08-19 21:18:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. Belief is not the right word, either. What you are speaking of is Faith. Faith is the result of God's gift of Grace. This might appear random to you, hence your question. It appeared random to me, as well, when I was asking questions like yours. If you receive Grace, you will know it. It is often given to the most undeserving people: me. Paul experienced such a profound epiphany through Grace that he was able to author much of the New Testament.
2006-08-19 21:51:36 · answer #8 · answered by thepaxilman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may have a point. Like addictive personalities? yes. I have actually seen ex-alcoholics become religious fanatics.
But religious fervor, in general seems to be a regional phemomenon. Like the bible-thumpers down south. Or in 3rd world countries where modernization and technology is still new.
2006-08-19 21:06:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that God starts out when you are young, God has a plan for everyone and everything. I believe it is nurture of God touch. And the ones that are lucky enough to grow up with our family's and God, well we just try to understand it a little better.
2006-08-19 21:09:08 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋