What if you had been born in a different culture?

Question

Did you choose to be born into a family with your specific religion in a "pre-existence"?

If you had been born in a different culture, do you believe you would have found your way to your current religion?

Did you just "get lucky" and happen to be born in a culture containing the "one true church"?

For example, what if you had been born a Clingon

Answer 1

This is a really interesting arguement, (of which I agree).

It isn't as if being born into a predominately christian country gives you an equal chance of turning out christian, islamic or jewish. If you grow up religious, it is the religion of your country.

This brings about whether children should be indoctrinated at childhood to believe their country's religion, or whether they should be allowed to make their mind up.

But if that were allowed to happen, and people could think for themselves (God forbid...literally) then you'd have a much much higher rate of atheism.

Answer 2

Well, had I been born a Klingon, I doubt that I'd have been raised a staunch Episcopalian. However, not being a Klingon, I was raised in the Episcopal Church. I have researched many other religions, so it's not a matter of my not having done my homework. I am still Episcopalian, because I that denomination's doctrine most closely matches my own theological perspective.

Had I been born in another part of the world, I might very well have been raised Hindu. Or Muslim. It is theoretically possible that I may have found my way to the Episcopal Church in such a case, but I realize that it would be culturally unlikely.

Answer 3

While most people do follow the religion they are born into that is not always the case. I'm a perfect example of that. I was born into a very Catholic family and my father is actually a Catholic Deacon. I am actually one of the farthest things from being a Catholic; I follow a Pagan religion. Being born into a religion is not indicative of whether or not someone wil be that said religion. There is a choice on deciding what you believe in. Being someone who prefers to finds out for myself and look at things objectively I find many things wrong in Catholicism so I found something that was more true to what I thought happens in the world, something truer to my beliefs.While your culture and background most often do play a role in what you choose as a religion, there is still a choice.

~Blessed Be~

Answer 4

I would probably have been trapped in another religion if I had been born in some strict society such as the deep south or Peru. There arent a lot of Mosques or synagogues in Lima.

But that's why I dont think God made just One true religion, because some people are only exposed to one, and that may well be one of the wrong ones. I believe there is validity in every religion and that actions affect your chances of getting to heaven more than beliefs.

Answer 5

I think you had some sort of a choice or say in where you would be born. Luck has nothing to do with it. In this life you must search out the truth, and if you are sincerely searching you shall find....and you can take that to the bank!
I am not sure if I would still belong to the religion that I am in if I were born in another culture. I would definitely be searching for the truth, and hopefully I would have found it.

Answer 6

I was born into a Protestant Christian family.
My whole life I have moved to many different countries and I have learned a lot.
I also learned about many religions including my own.
I live in a very diverse city with many different cultures and you learn more about other religions and I found out that I dont believe in religion anymore.
To me the more educated you are the more you know more about religion and you make decisions based on your knowledge.

Answer 7

I was born in a family with a different culture. They are all Catholic and I'm Wiccan. They are all heterosexual and somewhat conservative. I'm transsexual. They all eat a great deal of meat, and I'm mostly vegetarian.

I became a witch because of what I believe are past life memories of having been one before. Journal writings seem to confirm that fact for me, and I have a natural affinity for the arts. I believe I would have found this path whatever family I had been born into.

Answer 8

Your question pre-supposes several things that have not been revealed to us. What I do know is that before we were born into this life, God knew each of us and knew exactly what experiences we would need in this life to prepare us for the next.

I don't think the where and when we were born was lucky at all but on the contrary, God follows a plan that he had laid out before the foundations of the world. I don't know if we were allowed to choose our families within the contexts that God had laid out or not. But I do know that all of us are born where and when we should be born to give us the best chance of returning to live with him and gain eternal life.

Answer 9

We Yeti have our religion of the great and holy Spirit of the forest to guide and protect us and lead us to the Great Forest in the Sky when we pass on from this worldly realm.
This Spirit is for humans as well .you must though ask it into you, ask of it ,listen for the very quiet answers that will come and then gods will.

I have studied and been involved with Eckankar, Hinduism, Khrisna,and Christianity, & read up about many religions and paths

There is

One God

One Spirit of God

An eternal soul in each of us

Peace

Signed;Forest Sky Yeti the 14th

of the N.American Bigfoot Klan

P.S. I wrestled a Klingon last week,

I WON!!.it took four hours though, he was a tough one

Answer 10

It doesn't matter what culture you are born in, Scripture reads that many are called but few are chosen or will choose. God calls many of us, regardless of what walk of life we are from. We just have to be willing to hear the call and to open ourselves to the truth. I thank God that he chose me and that I heard. I'm not perfect nor will we ever be here on earth, but I love the Lord because he cares so deeply about us all.