Is religious belief merely a function of where you were born and what you were told as a child?

Question

Whatever your religious beliefs are now, they'd be different if you were born in another area of the world where those beliefs aren't readily taught. Christian vs. Islamic nation, for example. You'd be the same person with different beliefs. Or am I wrong?

Answer 1

Exactly... religion is culturally driven. It's tradition. Millions around the world teach their children there is a Santa Claus knowing there isn't just because it's tradition. Religion is the same. Many question it internally, intellectually... but won't publicly raise the question for fear of being scorned by the delusional for a legitimate doubt.

Answer 2

Normally, I would agree with this logic. But my parents didn't teach me their religion---they tell me that I seemed to have my own as a young child. I had (have) animistic beliefs and a belief in reincarnation---these things didn't come from my family or friends. I knew that my purpose here was to learn and that everyone has their own path to follow. I had an aunt that lived far away and while visiting her she understood what I was talking about and gave me a book on new age spirituality. I was 11 years old by then. I really can't explain before then where I got my beliefs from since there was no one around me who believed the same way that I do and we only had 3 TV stations back then. Perhaps if I had been born in a country that didn't have freedom to worship as I felt was right, things would have been different. But I'm not sure. I agree that religion is a learned behavior, but neither my parents nor I ever figured out where I learned it from.

Answer 3

Oh I'm sure it has a great deal to do with it, especially in nations where there is no outward religeous freedom. You wouldn't be allowed to be exposed to other faiths, only in that the others are "condemned" and put in a poor light. I do have to say though that considering how many people I have met that are not in the faiths they were raised...I think it's a mistake to overlook the power in a persons life of their individual will. For example, I was raised a secular humanist but am now a born again christian. I saw the fruits of that belief system play out in my life and that is one of the primary reasons I don't believe that any longer. I think it is like that for most. Generally human beings have a self will that exerts itself pretty good. There are so many different faiths in this world and everyone has to find purpose and meaning to their lives in the best ways known and available to them. I know of so many christians in muslim nations going against the tide of islam and look at America and how many people are there as a result of going against the flow.

Answer 4

For the most part, you are right. Your childhood really determines your adulthood. It's the same as in an abusive home. About 80% of children that are brought up seeing abuse, become abusers themselves. I myself, was brought up baptist but, as an adult, I have found new beliefs and I now question some of the knowledge that I was given on religion. Don't get me wrong, I've kept a lot of what was I taught as a child, but I now know that there's a whole world of beliefs/ideas out there, that I never knew existed. You see, life is what you make it, and when you reach the point of adulthood, it's up to you weather or not you believe all that you've been told.

Answer 5

You've got 2 different questions there.

First: I was raised without religion and now have it, so no my befiefs are not merely a result of my childhood.

Second: If I was raised in another area of the world all of my experiences would be different and I would not be the same person with or without the same religous beliefs.

Answer 6

I think for the large majority of human beings you're right.

But some people have a very strong inner drive to find their own spiritual path, and will pursue this above everything, even when their entire family and community shun them for it.

These tend to be the people who are most serious about spiritual progress, because what they are searching for is a powerful expression of truth, rather than a social or psychological aid or crutch.

That's not to say that folk who inherit their religion from their communities are somehow lesser persons - but they are a different type of person, and their motivation is different.

Answer 7

Initially yea.

Fortunately my mother was open minded and looked at the Bible scientifically, pointing out to me passages like a Man of Metal Ate A Parchment and Spoke. She was a computer operator and though that seemed a lot like a computer, of course this was in 1963 before computers talked. But she saw the parable.

That had more of an effect on me. Looking at the scriptures from different prespectives. Looking at the scriptures RELATAVISTICALLY.

Later, I looked at other philosophies and couldn't find one better overall than the teachings of Jesus.

Answer 8

Religious beliefs are just that. Personal beliefs about religion. Whether it be traditionally based, family based, culturally based, law based, whatever....religion is just religion.

Once religion and denominations are seen past, and the big picture of what needs to be looked at and believed in comes into play, that's when you'll see your huge debt of sins you've done since day 1 up til now, and then see you'll need something greater than you to pay for that!

That's when you look towards 1 Cor 15:1-4, and see that Christ died FOR your sins, and thus, the sin debt you've built up unto God by doing so many crazy things in your life has been imputed unto your substitute, Jesus Christ.

His blood was shed all over the place, a sacrifice for sin so that you could be presented holy and blameless before God now. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved! Justification is through his death burial and resurrection!

Answer 9

Z: This all depends on whether or not it is genuine conversion to Christianity or not. Genuine conversion leads to a TRANSformation of the mind; whereas, unconverted "religious" training leads to CONformation of the mind-set !!! ... This is a hugh or vast difference in approaches to Christianity. Once you transform with the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit, you are definitely NOT the same person you started out the conversion process as !!! GREAT question , "Z" !!!

Answer 10

My beliefs aren't readily taught where I was born - in fact, I'm the only Pagan in my family (everyone else is Christian of varying denominations).

So... in my case, you're wrong.