Is faith a choice?

Question

Is faith a choice when you're a child?

Also see related question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AghLW9p85VaY4AaMUHU0a_7sy6IX?qid=20070211045902AAvFqrX

Answer 1

As a child faith is not a choice because you have nothing to relate to. Actually this statement can apply to just about anything as it relates to children. As children we did what we were told by an adult. Much the same as if you stuck a 2 year old in the same room with a five year old. The two year old will observe the five year old and digress to whatever the five year old wants because the two year old doesn't know. Only after we've lived life a few years do we begin to make judgements on our own and decide our own destiny.

Answer 2

Although you would not be able to identify that belief as faith until an age of reason, regeneration can still take place. As God's people we baptize our children in fulfillment of a covenant that identifies the parents as running a Christian household (I believe this to be what was meant by baptizing entire households in the early Church). Of course salvation itself is all up to God, we just have our kids marked as God's property as a part of that covenant. So I'll disagree with our Baptist friends on both their credobaptism and faith after acceptance. Therefore to answer your question, no, faith is not a choice at all, it is a gift, when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, we see and we thank him for the sight, we don't have to decide on whether we have received a good thing.

Answer 3

YES
In the words of the Prophet Muhammad: "Every person is born with the innate religious faith (to submit to God Almighty)." Thus when an individual accepts Islam, he is not turning his back on any prior revelation but rather is returning to the original and true revelation of Allah and to his own nature as a creation of Allah. This being the case, Islam is your birthright-



According to the Quran, "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256), thus, no one can be forced to become a Muslim.

Answer 4

faith relatively isnt even a decision. faith is an intuition that we chosen to have faith in or no longer, yet faith itself isn't a decision. the only selection lies in wether we'd pick to have faith it or no longer. some human beings dont even chosen that, they purely are blind to what faith tells them. And all of us's ideas can get replaced on something they view if the suited actuality is provided in front of their eyes. basically situation is, maximum perspectives won't be able to be provided visually as closure.

Answer 5

How can a child choose when the parents take them to wherever? resulting in the poor vunerable mind being brainwashed into following the same religion. It isn't a choice under these conditions.

Note that this is just my opinion and those who will give me thumbs down.... you have judged me for being different, what does your faith say about that??

Answer 6

Faith it's one of the best ways through dark days

Answer 7

I think faith is a choice deep within.

Answer 8

I think those who are disposed to faith are wired up differently from me, its not 100% but I'm sure there is a biological explanation in there somewhere.

Answer 9

Faith is given by God - the choice is whether or not you accept it.

Answer 10

I think children can be brain washed but unless they chose as adults they have no faith. it has to be a choice. unless we choose to accept Jesus we are domed.