When you stand by something, let's say your religion...?

Question

does it bother you that religion (or race or nationality or language) was something that you did not have choice in (for most of us anyway) ?

I sincerely hope I'm not offending anyone...This is something I feel sometimes. I mean, if I were born in another place at another time, I wouldn't be standing for the same things that I do now.

Hope you could make sense of that... And apologies if anyone finds this distasteful

Answer 1

I have read many stories about people who converted from one religion to another; it happens all the time.
It is true that a person who is born into a particular faith is more likely to remain in that faith till the day they die. But many don't. As humans, we have a unique ability to rationalize and use logic to determine right from wrong. A person who is sincerely looking for the truth will be more apt to explore other faiths and test the waters than someone who is complacent or lazy.

Common sense tells me that all religions cannot possibly be right; they contradict one another in too many ways. Since they cannot all be right, some must be wrong. It is my responsibility to explore what I believe and compare it with what others believe, weigh the evidence, and determine for myself what is and isn't right. If I refuse to do this and my faith turns out to be false, whose fault is it?

Answer 2

As for race, nationality, or language and to some extent my enculturation, I had no choice. (If you did, you damned well better tell me so I can complain ;-) However, as to what I believe or think, I have choice. After we reach a certain age, of discernment, we are responsible for independent investigation of reality, not accepting unquestioningly and uncritically what we were spoon fed as children.

At 13, I rebelled against what I was spoon fed because it failed to strike a deep and resonating chord within me. It was not a trivial matter. When I was 21 I finally found, or it found me, something so compelling, something that made sense of the universe and all that lives and moves therein, made sense of history, made sense of all the religions I had investigated, made sense of everything I had ever thought about, everything that meant anything to me -- and I have a very determined bent -- and that was the words of Baha'u'llah.

Answer 3

There are a LOT of things in life that you did not and will not have a choice in. It builds character to learn how to be the best person you can with what you've got instead of whining about things all the time.

Fortunately, religion is ALWAYS something you can choose.

Answer 4

you are right but then again remember, human mind is never satisfied with what one has. if you had a choice and if you did choose to be some one else, wht's the the guarantee you would be in a better position? I say choice or no choice, make the best out of if.

Answer 5

I was raised in a religion that belonged to my family- and stereotypically to my race... but I examined it and found it was full of holes. I made the choice to change and VIVA LA DIFFERENCE!

Answer 6

Well, I did have a choice in my religion. I chose to be Pagan when I was 11. So it can't bother me then.

Answer 7

The complete opposite,i thank my lucky stars.

Answer 8

You're right about that, it's how you were raised that defines who you are when you are younger, it's up to you to find the truth.

Answer 9

Well, you can learn to think for yourself. That's always worked for me.

Answer 10

I am an individualists, I choose what is right for me.