What if I was raised under a different religion?

Question

I'm Christian, and one of the most important teachings is to recognize god, or go to hell. Well what if I was raised in Islam and taught to believe in Allah and he was the only true god? Would I be forgiven for my misleadings? I mean, that's a big screw up worshipping the wrong god for your entire life, and practicing rituals Christians would object to. What if what were being taught is wrong, and some other religion is the true religion? And what makes our religion more true'er than others? Who's to say we aren't brainwashed, and the religous books are nothing but principles of life to live by, carefully written by ones who seek fame or to calm society? Basically, what I'm saying is, is ignorance forgiven? I believe in "a" god but I don't know if what I'm being told is accurate.

You say, "have faith", but the only place to place that faith is with the people who told us to believe it. They say, "believe in God." You mean, believe in you? I just find it very hard to follow their words. How do I know the Bible is Gods' words and not someone else's? If I knew god (have spoken with him) I would have faith in him, but I don't know him. I truly do want to believe in God, but I don't know who to trust and who's word to take. They are all equally passionate of what they believe in, yet they don't have any real proof of what they say is right except word of mouth. So I am to believe these people, and not God... because he hasn't said anything to me.

Answer 1

If there is more than one god, you are at least worshipping one. If there is no god, you are merely wasting your own time worrying about it. If there is one god, you are arguing about a name. God is god. Do you think addressing God by the "wrong name" is going to get God upset? Or using the "wrong" rituals or prayers? That kind of god is too petty and insecure to deserve respect. I suspect God is more interested in your actions out in the world. Do you try to make life better for people or do you try to make people more miserable? Sure, we may disagree on many of the details, but essentially, we all know what's right or wrong, church teaching notwithstanding. And ignorance cannot be sin.

Answer 2

Most people are born into their religions and never know anything else. They are taught from childhood that their belief system is the only right one, which probably makes them feel rather smug in their own salvation. (It's true; people are more likely to answer that *they* will go to heaven than Mother Theresa!)

Occasionally people will convert to some other faith, typically when they perceive that a new religion will add some meaning to their heretofore empty lives. On the other hand, sometimes people will drop out of church altogether, either because they've developed minds of their own, or they realize they just don't need fairy tales anymore to comfort themselves.

One of the problems with any religion that claims to have a patent on Divine Truth (e.g., "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me," "My religion is the only right one and all others are wrong", etc.) is that it automatically excludes any other belief systems from having any kind of legitimacy. It automatically divides the world into the saved vs. the un-saved, the believer vs. the infidel, etc., and offers no room for compromise or dialogue. (Do we really have to wonder why people of different faiths can't get along?)

You asked, "What if some other religion is the true religion?" That's a really tough question, because almost all religions claim to be "the" true religion. Have you stopped to consider that maybe NONE of them are true?

That's my take on it, anyway. My concern is not whether I'm going to go to hell for believing the "wrong" things. My concern is making *this* world a better place FOR EVERYONE and living my own life as though it were not some kind of lame "test" to see whether I get into heaven or not.

And if I'm wrong, well, you know what they say... heaven for the climate, hell for the company!

Answer 3

It does not matter how you where raised it is your duty as an adult to seek the truth. Yes the most important teaching is to recognize God. But when you are worshiping someone who is not God that is the biggest sin there can be. When you are praying to and giving thanks to a false God that is the sin whether you where raised that way or not. As an adult you now have the choice of which faith you follow. To just give the excuse "well im sorry God but i was raised that way. Cant you forgive me for being mislead?" Did you not have free will? Did you have spare time that you could have researched and widened your knowledge? Ignorance forgiven? If you are asking you have time to educate yourself so you are without ignorance, don't you? There is only one God. And it is your duty and your duty alone to seek that truth.

Answer 4

By your own words you reveal that you are not truly of The Christian Faith... One of The True Christian Faith would not ask or state as you have. One of The True Christian Faith knows The Truth.

for any one from islam, or hindu, or scientology, or whatever... even those who "think" they are christians... ALL who come to God in The Way He proscribes and recieve His free gift of salvation will KNOW The Truth... they will become of The Body of The Chuirch of which Jesus The Christ is The Head and their place in Heaven will be assured.....And all past will be forgotten by God... and there will be no desire within the individual to ever turn from The Way, The Truth, and The Life

I accept email questions concerning the basics of the True Christian Faith. 1 honest question receives 1 honest answer to the best of my abilities.

Answer 5

Now that you are a Christian, (you have asked for forgiveness, repented of your sins and asked Jesus into your heart) you are forgiven for your past. It's the gift of grace.

In Christianity, you can't earn your way into Heaven. It is a gift of grace from God. Yes, you can do things for God here on earth to glorify Him and His kingdom.

Confused? Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. John 14:6

The living God is the one true God. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

I would encourage you to read and re-read the book of John in the New Testament. Then perhaps read Jude (the book before Revelation) through Matthew. Study it, get to know it well.

Keep in mind, that the Holy Bible tells us there are other gods they are false gods and there is only one living God.

Jesus beat the grave and He lives!

I will tell you this in love, ignorance is not an excuse.

Answer 6

I was raised to be Lutheran, to follow in the teachings of that religion. But I never felt right in it. I never felt as if it was right for me or that I belonged. So I spent a few years of mid-late teens figuring out where I belonged spiritually. I talked to religious leaders from Islam, Catholocism, Chritianity, Wicca, even Buddhism. And I studied many nights over various religions as well. I finally settled into Druidry. Actually, more to say, it settled around me. I was talking to a Druid at a local ceremony one day and somehow I felt like I just belonged to that group. Like I'd known them for a while, even though I just met them. Religiously and personally now I don't believe in a hell or that one religion is right or wrong over another. I believe that everyone has their own way to spiritual enlightenment, all that matters is that we get there, not the path we take. If someone can reach their spiritual peak through Buddhism or Wicca or whatever, kudos to them, as long as they get there, thats all that matters. Sure there are different religions out there, but aren't they all there for the same purpose?

Answer 7

Many of us have asked ourselves the same question. Would a truly just god condemn someone to an eternity of pain just because they followed the religion of their parents and the region in which they were born? Does that sound fair? Isn't it more likely that all religions are just attempts by humans to bridge the gap between the known and the unknown, to somehow make contact with something greater and seek its guidance and approval?

Answer 8

Salam (Peace)

I believe that any religion should make sense, and Islam (not the misrepresentation, extremist views or liberalist views but the true religion)does exactly that. Don't believe me check it out yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow5d54nwEfk

May Allah guide us all to the straight path

Answer 9

I'm not sure about other religions, but Christianity is ALOT different from other religions. Jesus Christ said that he is the only way to God. I'm not saying that. The Bible is. If you know of Him and what he says, then ignorance won't be an OK answer to Him. Of course, this is all if you believe in the Christian God. Jesus is the only one like that to claim divinity and to be God so I'm not sure about other religions. Wish I could help more!

Answer 10

As a professed christian, when you see know your religion preaches love as the Bible says and then you see them go to war thoughout history, allow fornication against Bible principle, put man's philosophy ahead of Bible teachings, you will start questioning if you have the true religion. Muslims can reason the same way if their religion is the true one.