I asked a friend why she was a Christian and she said cos she was raised that way. Why are you?

Question

She has a hard time wrapping her head around my atheism so I pointed out that I only believe in 1 less god than she does.

She didn't find that funny.

So I asked her why she is a Christian. Why out of all of the religions is she a Christian after having somewhat studied the others.

Her answer: Because she was raised that way.

Is that the main reason Christians are Christians?

Do people become Christians because it is the society's norm?

Answer 1

The vast majority of religious people adopt the religion of their parents.

The main thing that causes people to change religions is marrying someone of a different faith.

Atheists are the only major group among whom most people changed their beliefs because of consideration of the facts, values, etc.

Of course there are exceptions in each religion, but it is comparatively rare for a person to have chosen one of the religions. About the only time that people face this is when marrying someone of a different faith, and even then, notice that in many cases the parents stay with their respective religions and the question is which faith the children should have.

Unfortunately, when this question is asked, it is sure to get anecdotes in response that make it look as though religion is typically chosen by the person. People typically do not want to believe that their religious beliefs are a matter of geography/heritage, even when they are. The anecdotes are a distraction from the fact that people in general adopt the religion of their parents. Religious belief is only occasionally a matter of conscious decision making, even among the people who tell anecdotes about having chosen their religion.

Answer 2

A lot of people "practice" a religion because they were raised that way. However, life development theory purports that at some stage (usually around the college years), a person's spiritual beliefs become tested and personally owned or rejected.

For my own part, I was raised in a Southern Baptist setting. Like so many, I drifted from those roots in college. And like so many, I had a rough time during that period, which almost ended one lonely night in a bathroom with a razor blade.

A lot of people on here will say that religion is a crutch. But what do you say when somebody who was going to waste his life on himself determines that he must live for Someone Else, Somebody who is better than he is, but still cares for him?

I'm 32. I have a great job, two college degrees, and a genius IQ. I'm the eternal pessimist, but I constantly test the truth claims of the Christian God. My faith is my own. And I thank God for that.

Answer 3

I was raised around Christians, that is true. However, my family tree also boasts some Jews, a few atheists, and even a couple of wiccans.
During the sixties, I went on my own spiritual exploration, like most of the kids of my generation. I read alot about the different religions, and their beginnings, although I'll admit that these days, I probably don't remember alot of details.
What did impress me was that, as far back as history can reach, in every single culture I read about, there has been some form of worship. All through history, mankind has been reaching out for God, which, I believe, he instinctively knows is out there....somewhere. A built-in resonse? Oh, I've considered the possibility that these primitive people were looking for explanations, but since so many religions seemed to go beyond that, it really didn't satisfy me.
ONLY in Jesus Christ did I see God reaching down to mankind. The love of Christ is overwhelming. I thought "If I truly believed that, that God became man and went through all He went through, just to sacrifice His life for mine, it would break my heart."
Then, one day, it did.
That is the "Reader's Digest" version of why I am a Christian.

Answer 4

one thing i will say in response to your question 'why out of all the religions is she a Christian after having somewhat studied the others?' is that all the other 'gods' are dead. Jesus Christ is living. He died and rose again! He reigns in heaven for eternity. When you ask him into your heart he will become real to you. the Holy Spirit is a part of the living God which we come into contact with as Jesus sent Him when he went to be with the Father. You are not a Christian just because you are raised that way because i was raised in a Christian family but it didn't make me a Christian- I made a personal commitment to God because He spoke to me, i was convicted and moved by the Holy Spirit. He wants us as individuals to make a decision to seek Him.

Answer 5

It is a personal relationship with God. You need to allow it to happen. Everyone who will seek Him, will find Him.

I think it is easier to give your life to Christ if you have had Christian upbringing. Even if not very religious one but just that your parents do not deny Christ.That is so good that if a child dies, He belongs to God. When we become to the age of understanding, then we are accountable. And we are going to be judged by how much information we have had available.

What is a good thing about God, that when He forgives, He forgives it all. I think that is great. Some people are more grateful about that than others. It is like debts. If you owe a lot and you are freed form your debt, and if you owe a little and your debts are forgiven...both get the whole debt forgiven but it might cause bitterness because it does not seem fair when your heart is not right. So we just need to get our hearts right with God, then we understand things better.

Answer 6

People really don't seem to understand what it means to be a Christian. Christianity is not something you are born into or that you "learn." Christianity is a result of the working of the Spirit of God to convince you of your need for a Savior (conviction). Once you respond to this conviction and repent (turn from your sin - change your mind) the blood of Christ changes who you are. You are what Jesus called, "born again."

To many, Christianity is just a religious view - a mental acceptation of certain religious views and principles. However, you can mentally accept the teachings of Christ, and even try to conform yourself to His teachings, but if your heart has not been changed, it is all in vain.

I came to Christ because of the conviction of the Spirit. I had to make my own decision to say yes or no to my surrender. Since that time, my faith has grown because of the personal relationship with the Father through Christ. Also, I have studied in detail, the claims and the historically reliability of the Christian faith and the Bible. I have been convinced in my mind what my heart had already knew through faith.

Answer 7

I was raised a Christian. But, there was a time in my life, where I put God on the back burner. I ignored Him, and did everything that I wanted to do. I wanted to satisfy my own flesh and did not want to hear anything about God. Until, one day after I had gotten myself into trouble after trouble, I felt that God was speaking to me. Telling me to 'Come home.' Still I ignored it, until one day, I could ignore it no longer. And since I have invited God back into my life, I could not be happier. Even when troubles hit my life, I know that Jesus is right there on the boat with me weathering that storm with me. I take comfort in knowing that God is all- knowing and He knows what is happening to me and I will never go through it alone. He has blessed my life immensely and there is a peace inside of me, that I just cannot explain. What I have learned is a lot, but one thing is that God will not let us get too far without calling us back.

Answer 8

I'm not. I'm a Baha'i; because: 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.
Spiritual Beliefs of the Bahá'í Faith. How Bahá'ís view other religions.

Answer 9

My family did not go to church, or teach me the Bible. At age seventeen I knew there had to be something. Sorry, I don't have super faith like you and other Atheist's that are so blind you can't think outside the box. I read the Bible on my own, and looked into other religion's before I excepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. What you and all other non-believers can't understand, or conprehend is what you can't see, the Spirit world. God is a Spirit, says so in the Bible.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.

After much searching I believed what the Bible said, and what other Christians told me. I believed, I confessed to God I am a sinner, I invited Jesus Christ to come into me, into my heart, to be my Lord and Savior. I know this is hard for you to understand, because you want proof.

My proof is inside me, the living spirit of God. and after 34 years, my faith is as strong as ever. The Bible has many verses that tell of God putting his Spirit inside Believers. Below are just a few.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

AND SHALL BE IN YOU!

2 Corinthians 4: 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world(Satan) hath blinded the minds of them witch believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1 John 3:24 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

You see, we believe because of his Spirit living inside us, teaching us to be more like what he would have us be. I hope you understand a little better why Christians are so hard headed.

And I would say most Christians could care less about society's norms.

Answer 10

Most do and lots really don't even know who Jesus is,they might as well be atheist.
I cried out to God at the age of 32 after many yrs.of being suicidal,I never would let anyone get me in a church or in anything to do with God unless it was, lol, Christmas time.
When I cried out to God....do something with my life or I'm going to kill myself...he did and that has been 22 yrs now and my life is something now ,Thank you Jesus.
My brother that was agnostic most of his life that I always loved no matter how he thought did indeed find the Lord when he fell sick with liver disease after drinking a case of beer every day for about 40 yrs, passed away the 13th at the age of 52, has for sure found out that he was so wrong in his way of thinking most of his life,I pray you find out to before it is too late.