Did you choose your religion or did your religion choose you?

Question

For example....Nearly all of the millions of people in Iran are muslim. However, If one of their babies was somehow adopted and moved to the U.S. to be raised by southern babtists....there is a very strong chance that the child would grow up to be a babtist. Very few people have actually studied all religions before making a decision. I find it disturbing that so many people follow and defend their religion not because they studied, researched and made a choice, but because they were indoctrinated.

ESTHER: So you are saying that god didn't give you a choice? I thought that free will was a foundation of your religion.

Answer 1

I have never been baptized. The Lord above chose my religion for me when he called upon me and helped me through a great struggle.

***Now we go back a few years, 3 to be exact. My fiance at the time had decided to get cold feet and he dumped me. We lived together still even though we are apart. I was depressed, tired and weary of life. Back then I never thought much of God and all that he is and can do for one person.
One day I was doing laundry and it all hit me at once I flew down to my knees and cried out "Jesus help me!" I don't remember for how long I stayed on my knees weeping for help and for forgivness, but I know that it had to be awhile because when my ex found me I was wrapped into his arms on the bed, I have no idea how I got there.
My ex and I never got back together, instead God chose another path for me. A nice man who is very Christian and an active church goer. I went to his church and found everything I needed there.
Now it's been 3 years and my current Boyfriend and I are taking a step back from our regular Church to explore my Family's religion, which is Catholic. I am finding the religion somewhat helpful, but not as the one that was chosen for me by my Saviour Jesus Christ.
I am still not yet baptized.

Answer 2

I agree that many people follow the religion of the family that they're brought up in (although many also do not). However, I don't think that neccessarily means that they follow that religion for the sake of convenience, or simply because their family does. And even if this is true, they may not be doing so consciously. Lots of people develop some of the same opinions as their parents, whether they mean to or not, sometimes including religion or denomonation.
I also tend to think that the process in which a person figures out what religion they want to follow can differ depending on how they're brought up.
For instance, I was brought up in a church environment, therefore Christianity has always been a part of my life, and for the most part is something I've always believed in. But once I was old enough to start truly understanding Christian teachings, I started actually thinking about what I was being told, and asking more questions. I could read my Bible (as well as other sources) and decide whether or not I agreed with my pastor, Sunday school teacher, parents, etc. Just because I didn't purchase a book on every major religion and make pro and con lists doesn't mean that I didn't make a conscious decision to be a Christian.
In my own way, I DID study, research, and make a choice, although perhaps not in the same way a child brought up in an agnostic home might have. I assume this happens in a similar way for many people who were brought up to believe a certain way. It may appear to someone on the outside looking in that we're blind followers, but there's probably been some doubting and decision making somewhere along the line.
But to an extent, I agree with you, and I'm sure there definitely are some people who don't quite understand why they believe what they do.

Answer 3

I can't say I chose because I didn't stay in Christianity. I was born into that belief and was uncomfortable with it as soon as I was big enough to understand what they were teaching. I do not consider myself a christian. However I do be live in the Savior but not the one that Christians worship. I believe in Yahweh as the Creator of the universe and his sons name is Yahshua (Yahweh is Salvation). I did study to find this information out. When I was approached by jesus people I would have no part in their conversation. Just because I knew this was not the name of the Savior so how if they could not get that small detail right could they tell me anything else I wanted to hear.
Then one day someone said to me I know his name is Yahshua and I know where you can call for more information on the name of the Savior and the Creator. I made the call.(1-800-676-9494) But this was not to make a choice to belive the way these people did just to see what they knew. I was already a strong person in study habits. I would spend hours a day trying prove to myself somewhere there has to be a being that made all this but I could not find it. Until I made that call. Then it was like every thing I had studied and proven wrong about religions is what this man was teaching his congregation.
So I can't really say I chose it but more like I was lead to my belife through alot of prayer and study.
I see that you have alot of questions and I hope maybe you will take time to read some of the things on this web site. I know most people that come here are real christians, they won't take the time. I pray you do.

Answer 4

Very good question with very good reasoning!
But I think that my religion has chosen me. I have read various religious books about Buddhism, Christianity, Theosophy, Hinduism..., until the age of 24 when the book entitled "Baha'u'llah and the New Era" of Dr. J.E. Esslemont randomly caught my sight, and I became attracted to the Baha'i faith until now.
The Bahá'í Faith is an independent world religion. With more than five million adherents residing in over 124,000 localities, the Bahá'í Faith is established in 204 countries across the planet. The spiritual principles of the Bahá'í Faith affirm its overall purpose--to bring about the oneness of humanity. In cooperation with these same principles, Bahá'ís also believe that there is only one Creator and that the spiritual truth of all religions is the same. From a Bahá'í perspective, The Bahá'í Faith is the most recent of the world's great religions. It forms the next link in a chain of important, divine teachings, a progressive revelation that places Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, as the Messenger of God for this age.

Answer 5

Not everyone stays traped in the religious rut they were stuck in as children. I have studied various religions for over 50 years. Some made a lot of sense. Others seemed unlikely at best.

Few contradicted them selves as much as my christian birth religion. It gave me my faith in God, but my other studies made me trust that he was not the judgmental psychopath that I had been taught that he was as a child.

Love and blessings
don

Answer 6

i was born in a Muslim family .i had the ceremony making me a Muslim when i was an infant.but it doesn't make me a Muslim.
after so many searching and reading not only about Islam but also about other religions,i can only say prophets were reformists of their own times,nothing more.and what they have said was good for their own time and people.
we have brains,we can decide what is good and what is bad,why should someone else tell us what to do?and why should we think of each other as christian,Muslim,Jew,... .lets think of each other as humans,believe in what we are and try to make the world a better place to live for everyone.

Answer 7

Why ask such a clever yet stupid question,,that, 'do we live to eat or eat to live' kinda question. Its not about study its about understanding. If i were a muslim child babtisted, I would still be asking my life's question and expect answers that is beliveble by me or i die wasted.Your kinda of question is a question coming from the comfort of you home not from an learned mind.

Answer 8

I chose my religion! I was raised up in a particular faith, but rejected it when old enough to make my own decisions. It caused much heartache to many when I did, believe me, but it has been well-worth the change.

Answer 9

I am a muslim since i was a baby.that is my fate,so i dont have to make a research about another religions.but as the condition that you said,the babies need persons that can bring them to the light of Islam.sorry if you are touched..

Answer 10

I find that a little bit disappointing too. People are just lazy and say "if this is what our ancestors did, it must be right." I researched and chose my beliefs, much to the dismay of my family.