If a baby was born and no one influenced him...?

Question

He would never find a religion the rest of the world believes in, isn't that odd?

Answer 1

On the contrary, most tribes discovered all have a belief in a God/ higher power without ever being told what to believe. It is built in us and takes some work to block out. It seems people all have to believe in something in order to try and fill the God void. These tribes take very quickly to Jesus and the knowledge of God.

Answer 2

Not odd at all. But of course, there's no such thing as a child who is not influenced. Even if you raised him with robots, and he never saw a human, that experience is an influence. A rather remarkable influence, in fact. He might worship the robots!

Actually, I don't think the concept of "worship" would mean much to him, except perhaps as a term he read in a dictionary.

I've gotten hung up on the impossibility of a child being raised without influence. In the end, there is no answer to a counter-factual conditional, unless it is pure logic. That is, a sentence with an "if" clause which is false or impossible can only be answered when the question involves logic, not facts.

Answer 3

LOL! You make a good point. Religion isn't instinctive, perhaps, but there does seem to be some inborn need in humans to believe in -something-. A baby who wasn't influenced might make up his own superstitions.

They did an experiment centuries ago, having a baby raised by two deaf mutes on an island, so the baby would never hear language spoken. They thought the baby would grow up speaking the original language of Adam and Eve! This is how people thought before 'The Enlightenment'. 8^) Perhaps a baby not taught religion would grow up with perfect knowledge of the One True Religion!

I say it's worth at try! Let's try raising an entire generation of children with no training in any religious doctrine at all. Just morals and ethics and principles of 'right and wrong'. And see if they can find -other- reasons for genocide, arrogance and intolerance. 8^D

Answer 4

I'm not so sure about that.

Even primitive societies have some inkling of God and some understanding of right and wrong.

Hellen Keller was Blind and deaf, she had lived a life of isolation, unable to see, unable to hear, unable to speak because she did not even know what a word was.

She was taught to communicate by a dedicated teacher who was convinced there was an intelligent mind somewhere in that dark, silent world.

Hellen Keller eventually learned to speak, to read, to write. She went to college and graduated with honors.

Hellen once said that she had always known about God, even before she had any words.

Even before she could call God anything, she knew God was there. She didn't know what it was. God had no name for her -- nothing had a name for her. She had no concept of a name. But in her darkness and isolation, she knew she was not alone. Someone was with her. She felt God's love. And when she received the gift of language and heard about God, she said she already knew about him - she didn't know what he was called but she knew he existed.

Sounds to me like she fits your criteria and she found religion without being influenced by anyone!

Answer 5

I feel that individual would be more close to reality than a lot of us, because we are stuck with biases and stereotypes while the actual focus and goal of religion is to be "INDEPENDENT" to think "FREELY".

It is actually that many people lack the ability to grasp and grow from the truth and thats why there are so many misconceptions of the term God and so many strange but uniques ways of living.

Did you ever hear of the God Gene. Scientists are still working and exploring towards it. Its basically theorized that we individuals may possess a God gene and when its turned on we become more spiritual. Intresting huh? But then again faith can manipulate some components of reality so its worth the respect. :)
(The real )God bless :)

Answer 6

He is like a new born baby,he does not know anything about the world. If he was exposed to new situation with new persons, he may get used to the world very soon and he will surely become a genuine man.

Answer 7

Eh, not really. It makes sense.

The problem is, of course, that there is no way to block out influence. But that is good that it is impossible... how else would people learn?

Answer 8

A lot of kids are born and raised without religion and still manage to find it.
Where did you get this info.
The Atheist's are afraid of us because they no that their own kids might join up with one religion or another.
That's why the want things like the Pledge changed and Christmas changed.
Boo Hoo
; )
You know in all my life I have never heard anyone put them down, in fact I have nothing against them.
Though I do wonder why they worry and want to push their own religion if you can call it that on us and others.

I remember when that head lady of the Atheist's got bad sick and called out to God to help her.
It was so funny, well you know because of her own religion and all.
I bet even she was shocked.

Answer 9

Not one bit odd to me.

Answer 10

Maybe not directly, but God has ways of finding people. You don't have to have a huge "Hello I'm Christian" sticker on your forehead to be saved. Even Daoists can go to heaven, according to Catholic teaching. It's only those who worship wealth and themselves that have little chance of getting anywhere after life.