If everyone was taught from birth that there was God was an all powerful giraffe, would we believe this today?

Question

Just a note, this isn't a question to offend anyone. I'll note that I am a Christain, not one that adheres to organized religion, but truley believe in a higher power, and lean towards the fact that Jesus truly was who he said.

But I do struggle with these beliefs often due to the fact that almost everyone who is religious, was raised in that particular religion, and had these beliefs drilled into their heads at a very early age.

My point is that if you had an isolated population, who teaches their children even the most absurd things, I think it's nearly a certainty that they will believe this. And most likley continue to believe this even if they are introduced to the rest of society at a later age.

And again I know religion is a touchy subject, and this is not meant to offend anyone, I'm just curious to hear peoples thoughts or rebuttles.

Answer 1

There's a wonderful human concept, and it's called doubt. Doubt is what makes people wonder if anything taught to them is true, and it enables them to figure this out. Doubt is the primal condition to learn anything, wonder if all you've heard is true. Closed societies distrust doubt, because it threatens their believes, but every human being has the capacity to doubt and thus to learn. We wouldn't have technology if noone had doubted if there were better or easier ways to do things.
And people need not be afraid of doubt. Because if you doubt if God exists, the answer *can* still be 'yes'. I myself did not find this answer, but I accept the fact that others did. I just want people to find out for themselves, not repeat everything they hear.

Answer 2

All religions originate with some central theme which resonates with the culture in which it grows. So, just because you taught children from birth that God was a giraffe, doesn't mean that they would believe it. Maybe in Kenya, where giraffes have some cultural connection, but in North America? I doubt it. Even though I do not believe that everything purported to have transpired in the Bible, Talmud, or Koran actually happened, it's easy to see the truths contained within, which these cultures embraced. Remember too that there are people raised as atheists, who later became religious.

Answer 3

I think you should do some research. I would bet that only 50% of Christians were brought up to be that. I was brought up in an atheist home where God was never mentioned. I always knew something was missing in my life and I yearned to have the peace and tranquility that my Christian friends family's had. I searched out God on my own as many many many people I know. I don't necessarily believe in denominations and rituals but don't care if others do. I embraced a Church that believed in the bible and based its beliefs on that alone. Not what anyone before told us we should believe or practice our religion in a particular way.

Answer 4

I saw a documentary not long ago about some tribe of people that live in a rainforest (somewhere) :). Anyway, they worshipped large snakes as the embodiment of god.

The documentary crew managed to film a horrifying scene, where one of these snakes snuck up on a group of these people, snatched up a woman's baby, and slithered back into the river with it.

This was heart-wrenching to watch, and the woman's grief was terrible to see. But at the same time, I was intrigued by the fact that she wholeheartedly believed that this snake was god. And she was praying to it to bring back her baby. She was begging the snake god to take her instead, because it was her sin that caused him to take the baby.

As I watched it, I saw a complete parallel to just about every other religion in the world. Christians in the west would find it silly that this woman is thrashing the water with a stick to get "god's" attention. But was that ANY less ridiculous than what they believe?

I mean, hell... at least the snake makes an appearance now and again...

Answer 5

Raise a child up in the way he should go, huh? By the time we are adults, regardless of what we are taught as children, we do have the ability to then decide for ourselves what religion we will belong to, if we do at all. I was raised in the Holiness church, but after I grew up, I decided that it wasn't for me, and set out on a personal odyssey to discover just what my beliefs were. We all question things from time to time, that is normal. It would all depend, I think, on what made the most sense to the individual. I am a Christian, however, there are things about every religion that I find I have something in common with. The important thing is to find one that you most agree with. Good Luck!!!!!!

Answer 6

They might believe it as children to grow and find out that it was like Santa Clause, the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny.

I was raised in the Church and I did believe.

As an adult, I know the truth...I have experienced with my own eyes prayers answered, blessings and "unexplained miracles." I have watched Him move in my life, my families and friends.

Throw in the Bible and it's a done deal!

I don't have religion. Religion is man's way of trying to reach God.

I have a relationship with the living God, through Jesus Christ...and since it's a relationship; it's a two way street.

I'm not going to Heaven because of any works...I'm going because God gave me a gift of grace through the blood of Jesus.

Answer 7

Most likely :) The vast majority of people that are raised in a particular religion stay in it, to the exclusion of all else. Doesn't matter if that's christian, buddhist, hindu, etc.
Personally I was raised a mormon. Had serious doubts in my teens, but when your whole family is deep into it, and most of your friends, it's hard to question it at all, let alone break free. I even went on a 2-year mormon mission. When I got back from that, I knew I had to get out, so I did -- but it wasn't easy. My family to this day, at family gatherings, will be talking and say things like, "oh, won't it be nice when we're all in heaven together -- except Paul, of course, who won't be there." You have to really be strong to stick to your convictions about staying out and living a life of logic and reason :)

Answer 8

I hear you. I had thought of that, but have met a lot of people who have converted to Christianity from another religion. They were taught one thing all their lives only to reject it later. I believe that God is found by any that will seek Him.

What about the pigmy that has never heard of Him. Well that's what that verse in the Bible that says even creation declares the Glories of God...

In the end we will all have our doubts...that is why it is called faith. You can't have all the answers. I am fine with that.

Answer 9

whilst God created the universe and all that is in it, He set rules in action. rules like 2 issues won't be able to occupy the comparable area. whilst a guy decide directly to hit a girl and those rules are in result, why do you blame God? we've possibilities. soreness and struggling has consistently come because of the fact there are outcomes to revolt of those rules God has positioned into place. the only time God interfered with those rules have been in proving a guy replaced into from God with a miracle so as that the human beings could pay attention to the message and comprehend that it replaced into additionally from God. in no way did God provide up a guy from sinning or rebelling to God's instructions, yet whilst guy did this outcomes have been the result. No regulation would nicely be without outcomes. God is a God of order and all rules are for our earnings. If a guy is going some marriage as God instructions, no person has to tension approximately yet another husband coming in with a shotgun. God's rules are there because of the fact God is for us, no longer against us. existence isn't honest. yet each and each is equivalent in that they are in charge for what God has given us.

Answer 10

Personally, I wouldn't because I'm the kind of person that needs proof. I became a Christian as an adult. God has placed in every man a desire to know Him and an innate knowledge of Him (kind of like an adopted child looking for their birth parents). Man will either fill it with the true God or false gods. This is universally observable, whether it's wooden idols in primitive socities or the gods of success, money, material possessions of so-called sophisticated civilizations.