I've seen a lot of Christians discussing free choice as an inherent part of worship. It seems like the vast majority of people hold the same beliefs and attend the same chrches as their parents. Given this fact, is it free choice? If the vast majority of people follow their parents, that strikes me more as indocrination.
I do not exclude myself. I have most of the same values and beliefs as my parents. There are differences of course, but by and large I have accepted most of my parent's moral system.
The biggest indicator of political party is also what your parents were. The vast majority of people just vote how daddy voted.
2007-01-30 08:15:05 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most (not all) religious people exercise free choice in the religion of their parents the way children who attended Hitler Youth Camps exercised free choice in determining whether to hold National Socialist beliefs...
2007-01-30 08:20:00 · answer #1 · answered by Blackacre 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yours is one of the best questions I've seen here since I started on Y.A.
You're right with a lot of people when it comes to religion the general thinking is "if it's good enough for my parents, it's good enough for me." That's fair to a point. However, there comes a time when you must examine your beliefs and see whether or not they are more than merely what is acceptable to your parents but what is acceptable to God himself. They may not always be the same thing and then you have a choice to make.
2007-01-30 08:26:25 · answer #2 · answered by Q&A Queen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ahhh.... but what you fail to realize is that everyone is given free will.... whether or not they use it is up to them. Many people do indeed go to the same church and vote the same way as their parents do. That is what they know and are comfortable with. it is hard to break away from something that has been instilled in you for the majority of your life. But each person still has the ability to decide for themselves. They have the oppurtunity to think beyond what has been handed to them and decide for themselves.
2007-01-30 08:25:07 · answer #3 · answered by krumtummom 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Father was Catholic. Mother was protestant. I am a Christian, finding fault with all man made denominations. Believe in the Bible and no other authority on the matters of faith.
Neither of my parents ever voted that I can remember. I am somewhat conservative, but I do not label myself democrat or republican, becuase both parties have lost their everloving collective minds.
I read the Bible on my own years after considering myself an atheist and come to realize every bad example of "christianity" I had come in contact with was due to the inability of man to actually follow the commandments of God since sin was introduced. God is not flawed only eveyone of his people and all the unbelievers too.
2007-01-30 08:24:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I follow my parents beliefs until I came into further knowledge of the lord and my perspective about the lord changed somewhat and being I have free will to decide and choose I now think and know different.
2007-01-30 08:21:42 · answer #5 · answered by JoJoBa 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no free will when it comes to salvation. God chooses out those who will be in His Church. You do not choose God, He chooses you. Not for anything you have done or will do, nor because of who you are or what position you may hold, but simply from divine grace and mercy does He elect some for salvation out of the human population who are destined for eternal punishment. This is Biblical and can be seen throughout the Bible, God choosing some, hardening others.
2007-01-30 08:25:29 · answer #6 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We don't have free will at all. It's an illusion.
But if we did, there are various levels of influence that can come to bear on you but you are still doing what you want. If someone points a gun at you and tells you to give them money, you do it because you want to live. It's still a choice though.
2007-01-30 08:24:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it simply boils down to a question of security. Having a comfortable, known set of beliefs and perceptions is how most people cope with things they don't understand or can't change, and even for those of us who break out of our childhood indoctrinations, as much as we'd like to think of ourselves as brave and forward-thinking, it's more often simply a case of the blanket not providing security anymore and us going to search for it somewhere else.
2007-01-30 08:25:26 · answer #8 · answered by dead_elves 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My father is a Democrat/Independent
I'm a Republican
My father was a 7th Day Adventist
I'm just a Believer
I choose for myself when I became of age of what and how I will believe
2007-01-30 08:20:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
parents can influence you, but you still have free will.
90% of the Athiests I know were raised in Christian homes.
Christianity isn't just a religion, it's a heart changing expierience
2007-01-30 08:19:51 · answer #10 · answered by Doug 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋