Is my perspective off, about God?

Question

I just saw some statistics on religion and realized that if I had been born in Afghanistan, I would be a Muslim! and if I had been born in Tibet, I would have been a Buddhist! and if I were born in Salt Lake City, I would be a Mormon and if I were born in India, I would most likely be a Hindu! If I were born in Ireland, I'd be catholic!

Is demographics the determiner of religion? That scares me, as a Christian... My parents were christians, their parents were christians, everyone around here is a Christian..

I feel like I have been in a box! Like I'm just stupid for not asking questions or something... It makes me mad, like I've been in an assembly line or something.

I am thinking of abandoning religion altogether and making it a point to travel the world and find out the truth myself! I'm tired of the pressures from my demographics.

The fact that religions are so concentrated around the world is an indictment against each of them! Universalism is looking good right about now

Answer 1

Is demographics the determiner of religion?

YES!

Well, actually, it all depends on where your parents grew up. See, you could live in a predominantly Muslim area, but if both parents grew up Catholic, you'd be Catholic. But most people don't make drastic moves like that. Most people stay in the country where they were born. Therefore, geography determines faith.

Answer 2

Whoa, hold off; not so fast. While I would agree that geography has something to do with it - lets look at that a little more closely.

First off - which one is right? I do not believe, as some do; that there are 'many roads to the same destination'. I simply do not. two plus two is four - there is no other correct answer. I look at this as me being fairly lucky (luck? - not bloody likely) that God has had me in his eye. So, if you really want to investigate the variety of faiths - by all means do; but I would ask you to have a trusted elder or preacher > someone you trust in your church to help you differentiate some of the faiths that you list above.

Is demographics the determiner? Likely - no. Look to the missions in China (which, by the way, a lot of Christians in - who would have thunk!?) I know our church has missions in MANY locations and they do have people that are really seeking GOD - even though the major faith is other than Christian.

Abandon religion? By all means. But seek truth - not some mythical unicorn that might have been somewhere at some point. I have made it a point to research my faith (odd pairing, I know) and base it upon factual data from science rather than just "cause the preacher said..." or "cause the bible tells me so..."

Religions concentrations. Well, I am ignorant of your point here. I am in a location that - within one square mile of my house, has a Muslim, Jew, Mormon, Baptist and likely atheist. I think it is more important to drop the codified traditions of religion (perhaps this is what you meant?) and concentrate on what GOD has in mind. What he did. When he did it. Why he did it, etc.

Here is my last point, of the faiths that you list; why aren't the ones that deal with Christ - in the middle east? That is where Jesus was born, where he was crucified and where he rose the third day following: by your argument, most of the religions espousing Christianity should be there - yes?

I hope this helps.

God Bless.

Answer 3

In some cases demographics can be the determiner of religion. But there are cases of people who have lived say for instance, Muslim all their lives but accept the call to Christ at some point in their lives. But then Christianity is not based solely on religion or the rituals that go along with it. True Christianity is based on a personal relationship with God. If that relationship is right and good then the faith and deeds of the Christian will be Christ like. It is when people take the doctrine of Christ and bend it to fit their own agenda's that it become sordid.

Answer 4

Burn: As a Christian, I can tell you that the Christianity is not one of demographics but of Devine choice - a "calling" from God through Jesus Christ. This is why in Muslim countries for example, there are Christians, however, persecuted. Strange as this may seem, even, in Jesus Christ's earthly family, they were not all Christian, except His brother James. On a more personal note, I would say that your choice to making it a point to travel would be quite interesting (nothing ventured - nothing gained) ! You NEED to get it out of your system (as they say), and go out and both, ask and answer "those questions" relevant to your Christian life however, weak or strong it may be. God wants Christians not robots ... don't just follow along in the Christian "parade" but prove or test it out for validity. Get answers for those questions you always had. God is patient and He isn't leaving either. Just for the record, in Ireland, there are also, Protestants, as well as, Catholics. I appreciate your views and commend you on your quest for truth. Religions for the most part, attempt to limit God and place Him in a "box" - God is "Universal" since He Created it !

Answer 5

You are not off at all, you are absolutely correct. Demographic more than often determines the religion of most people of the area. Growing up in New York I was exposed to many types of people, however almost my entire community was Roman Catholic, and so Was I at the time. Being young I just assumed everyone else in the world was Catholic, but as I grew up I realised this was not so. And I also felt stupid and angry with myself when I realised this as I would always think if someone was not Catholic they were damned or wrong. As I matured I learned more about some of the restricting, political, and vicious ways religions control their people even if they do not realised it. Catch em when their young is a great way to explain this.

Needless to say after discovering some things about myself, and realising I could not be part of an organized religion that dispes or looks down upon others, I now no longer have a declared religion, but find myself a strong believer in a creator and quite at ease with my own beliefs of god. Love and let love, respect the earth and the gifts we have given, and help your fellow man/woman. Nothing more is truly necessary and to judge or hate is to harm yourself.

~=*NunoyvgvnAwi*=- You confused me... you say all religions are based off similiar properties. You then continue to say they all want you to only believe in theirs. But then you support christianity as the supreme. You contradict yourself and seem to be denying yourself the knowledge you actually have. I beg you to please re-read what your writing because you seem utterly confused.

Answer 6

*smiles* Welcome to the wider world. It was a realization just like yours that led me away from Christianity in my early twenties, or at least set my feet upon the path that led me to where I am now (first an atheist, then a fulfilled theist in a different religion).

Your perspective isn't "off" -- you have a good point. People are raised in a certain religion and the culture that supports that religion, and tend to be that religion themselves. Does that invalidate the religion? I think the problem is when religion (or any philosophy) isn't engaged in mindfully. Get out there and explore the possibilities.

Where you go now is entirely up to you. I wish you the best of luck on your journey, wherever it may lead you.

Oh, and you might find this an interesting exercise:

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

It matches up up with different philosophies as well as religions based on your answers. The results can be quite entertaining and surprising, and the quiz itself really makes you think.

Answer 7

Read the bible for it tells us......." then God spread out man upon the earth into 7 languages and churches to confuse them till the end times ".

When you study and research all the other religions, and translate it back to its original form and how it was spoken then, you then start to realize.....they are all but the same.

Then realize the Bible tells us to stay on our land, to worry about our selves, not worry of the world. Again, this is why each religion states that others are wrong, to keep you on your land, at least attempt to.

But once these basic items are disrupted, then the clock starts ticking for the end days. And that clock is still ticking and getting close to striking the very hour. For again, it says that in the end days the truth will be revealed.

The fact that religions are the same has been revealed....the fact the pillar with Moses in the desert is the same as the cigar shape UFO's we see today. The fact the chariots of fire we hear of in the Bible are the red/orange UFOs we see today. And even 10 yrs ago....who would of thought that something as ufo's and the bible would ever come together. But don't mistake ufo's as what man thinks they are from what we have been told by TV, media and comic books. Just read the Bible to realize what they are.

Answer 8

Regardless of where you are raised, each individual should undertake a personal search for what is true, to them. Even if you are raised in a particular religion, and you believe that it is true, you should seek confirmation on your own of such truthfulness. Unless you have a personal understanding and belief you will at some point face a delema, such as it appears you are. I was raised in Salt Lake, a Mormon, but we were taught to find out for ourselves what is right, for us. My brother took different paths than I, but we are all respected. I searched hundreds of religions and studied with members of those religions and eventually determined what was right for me, and was I believed was true. No one can tell you what is true, especially when it comes to religion, which is totally faith based. You aren't in a box, but have all the opportunity in the world to find what you believe. Good luck.

Answer 9

IN Utah for example there are about 80% mormons there.... so you would more likely be brought up Mormon... Ireland.. a HUGE Catholic upbringing there.... demographics is all it is. You can still pick and choose the church you feel most comfortable with. This is kind of like a family... if your family has been doing the smae thing for years... you will probably do it too... including religion

Answer 10

demographics doesn't dermine religion. beliefs determine religion. actually, you're more likely to be a Catholic if you live in the Eastern part of North America, but I'm not Catholic.

and if you wanna give up religion, how about a relationship with Christ instead? you need not travel further (physically) than a Bible to find truth.....