Would strict Christians have been strict Muslims had they been born in a Muslim country?

Question

Every now and then you come across those Christian in here who believe not only that they are 100% right about their beliefs, but talk down to those who don't believe as though they are fools and will pay for it in the afterlife.

Do you believe these people would be hardcore Muslims unaccepting of any other religions had they only been born in a Muslim country and been raised Muslim?

It seems all too obvious to me that they are essentially the same people, and their faith is more a result of what they have been told then some spiritual awakening. Is it logical that so many would be convinced they are right (calling it faith) in one area, and so many, with totally different views, would have the same convictions yet be concentrated in another area? Of course, its quite logical that its purely based on how you are brought up and people are brought up differently in different areas.

Comments?

Answer 1

Absolutely! Follow the logic. As Paul mentioned in his answer above, people are not born with faith, they come about it in their lives. The difference is Paul ignorantly believes this means that they would have come to the same faith no matter what, and it is these same type of conclusions based without using logic that the KKK uses to justify racism.

Consider that we are not born knowing how to speak any language, but generally based on where we grow up and the native tongue of that land typically determines what language we speak. Of course there are exceptions, and there are those who learn other languages and so forth. But follow the basic logic...the influences in our life, particularly our early life, shape our beliefs, views, and traits throughout our entire lives. Religious is not different, and most who hard very committed to their life as Christians would no doubt have the same commitment to Islam under different circumstances. Religion is not instinct, its a belief. Beliefs are based on opinions of things, and opinions are formed based on what you are taught and what others who directly influence you early also think.

Answer 2

Its nature vs Nurture. Age old question of whether it comes from your genes or hoe you are brought up. Being born in a Muslim country does not mean you are by default a Muslim. But if you are born from Muslim parents, you are by default a Muslim.

If you are talking about 'hardcore' muslims, this becomes more of a problem of the teachings by their teacher. It is the teacher that spreads the teachings from his own point of view. In christianity, the children also go to religious schools right? But what if the people who teach the kids are the ones who are spreading the blasphemy? Kids' minds are very malleable and they wil believe anything. Similarly to those who do not know the difference between the proper teachings and those which have been twisted to suit the person's needs.

>>Do you believe these people would be hardcore Muslims unaccepting of any other religions had they only been born in a Muslim country and been raised Muslim?

In a surah in the Quran, it is said that "I don't worship your god. You don't worship my God. I won't worship your god, Neither will you worship my God." This is about religious harmony. I respect that you have your own god(s). And thus, you should respect my choice. There is no such thing as "unaccepting" as your question asks.

If i have said anything wrong or angered some people, I apologize. If yu have something to say about what I wrote, I'm open for discussion. Thanks.

Answer 3

Definitely so.
Just as they would be hardcore Jewish people if they were born in that society.

I have found their are two types of religious people -- those who follow blindly and do not question their own beliefs... and those who learn as much about their own religions and other religions and then make a choice based on informed decision. People in the first group would say people in the second don't understand what faith is, but I would beg to differ. God put the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, God gave human beings free will. To me, this is a sign that God wants us to make informed choices. God knew Adam and Eve would eventually eat from the tree of knowledge, and while the knowledge and sin that comes from that is wrenching, by the same token it is knowledge of the bad that makes us appreciate the good. The same is true for finding a spot within a religion, unless an individual has gained knowledge of other religions/faiths/practices they are simply following what they have been taught. I think this is true for most strict/extremists of any religion. They are closed minded and are incapable of seeing anything but their own point of view. With this in mind, it is often the culture, family, and upbringing of a person which creates their religious convictions.
A closed minded person is a close minded person no matter what religion or culture they come from.

Answer 4

I was not born into a religious family; no one went to church and an uncle living in the house was an atheist. I did have a spiritual awakening. I never used to believe that the Bible was true until I was about 30.. Jesus called me into the Catholic Church when I was in my middle 20's.

I am 63 y/o and know what I know through direct spiritual experience. That is why other people's "opinions" don't change what I believe.

However, I do think that many people believe what they believe because that is what they have been taught.

Answer 5

That is a good question. I probably would have been a muslim if I was brought up Muslim, but I don't know how 'hard-core" because a lot of my strength is from my faith in Jesus and I don't know that I would have had the same faith in a god like Allah. In the bible, it says we don't come to Jesus unless we are brought to the faith by the Father or the Holy Spirit, so I may have been one of those Muslims who got stoned to death or decapitated for believing in Jesus, because I believe I would have found Him because He drew me to Him.

Answer 6

Good question!

I think people born in Muslim countries have no choice, (or very little) in religion. This is why the radical Muslims are resisting modernization and freedom.

I was born a Protestant Christian, and after a lot of study, joined the Catholic Church. So I guess you could say that I did not just follow what I was born into.

But I did remain a Christian.

I have no problem with Protestants, or even Muslims, I do have a problem with anyone who wants to take my or your freedom to worship (or not) away.

Peace!

Answer 7

God’s righteousness is revealed in the Bible by Law and Gospel. The Law contains a number of commands without any spiritual power to carry them out, but the Gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ--His life of perfection, death for sinners, and resurrection for man’s eternal life. The Gospel alone is the power to keep the righteous Law because from it a person by faith receives in his heart the God who revealed the righteous Law. Part of that Gospel power is the want to keep and not the have to keep the Law. Those christians who do not live by Gospel faith to keep the Law live by their own efforts to keep it. When they are young and strong the self effort christians can be arrogantly dogmatic, but when they are old and weak they can be universalistic and permissive in their convictions as they seek to open the gates of heaven wide enough for their feeble selves to get through.

All people who keep good laws by their own strength most certainly do adopt any law based religion, but this is also true of those secularists who have no significant law and are tired of living chaotic lives. Christianity is not law based, but faith based. No one is physically born with faith in Christ, so no one is physically born a Christian!

Answer 8

I was not raised a Fundamental Christian, but I became one after the God of the Bible proved to me that He is the God of all. Muslims force other people to become Fundamental Muslims, while Christians only urge. There is a huge difference between these two religions. Christianity leads to eternal life while the other leads to eternal hell.

Answer 9

I was born in Iraq. I am Assyrian. I am a Chaldean Catholic. My ancestors have been Christian since at least the 4th century maybe even earlier but it's only documented since then. Religion is the most important aspect of one's life in the middle east. My family was extremely strict. I went to church every Sunday when I was a kid. I only missed maybe twice til I was 18. I wouldn't ever dream of becomming muslim. They killed most of my people. Why would I become the enemy? And to answer your question. We were never violent. In fact our lack of violence got us ethnically cleansed.

Answer 10

Yes- in the immortal words of 'Tuco' (the Ugly) from the classic Sergio Leone western, 'The good, the bad and the ugly', when he was arguing with his brother- who was a priest:

"Why would god have made sheep, if he didn't want them to be sheared?"

so- I think the answer is an obvious 'yes'. Now- I'd like to hear some deeply religious christians answer this question.