Did you choose your religion? Or did your religion choose *you*?

Question

Yes, there is a difference.

Detailed answers are most appreciated.

Answer 1

After a lot of research and looking into different religions, I chose the one that made sense to me. So, I elected to be a member and believer in my religion.

Answer 2

I am of Dominican descent and in my culture it is unusual for anyone to not to be a Roman Catholic. Even when you are born, you are baptized in a Roman Catholic church. Throughout my childhood I have been forced to go to Sunday mass because it was the "good and right" thing to do and it would be an offense to God and Jesus Christ if I did not attend. I did not understand the idea of going to church every Sunday because it was the right and good thing to do when I would have to sit around women and teenagers talking about their sex lives, how much they hated this person or that person, laughing about their daily lives, discussing someones provocative clothing in the front bench; all this was happening while the priest would be talking up a storm about how we should respect the house of God. To me it was all a form of betrayal and hypocrisy and I refused to be a part of it any longer. After I was forced to do my first communion, I never went back to church again. I don't believe you need to go to a certain temple or church to praise your chosen religious figure. It does not show God anything but that you are just doing something because everyone else is doing it. I believe there is a higher power watching over us and protecting us because I have prayed and although my prayers dont get answered all at once, someone must be doing their job because sooner or later I get answers. I have not yet found a religion more hypocritical than the roman catholic and I am sorry for anyone I offend because maybe its just the churches that I go to. Unfortunately, my culture has only allowed me to experience one religion and any other would prove to be disastrous to my family. For now I am just allowed to choose whether I want to go to church or not and maybe later on I can finally choose a religion that I truly believe in and love.

Answer 3

And yes, I understand the differance. In my case, I would probably have to say a little of both.

I was raised in an Orthodox Christian home, but was exposed to stories about the Greek Gods from an early age as those stories were also part of my family's culture. I felt a pull towards those Gods even before I fully understood it. So in that way my current religion "chose" me.

But I did not come to my current Hellenic Reconstructionist practice immediately. For several years in my early adulthood I resisted the pull towards Hellenismos and tried to remain Christian even though that was not satisfactory for me. Then I spent a period as a Solitary Wiccan whose emphasis was on the Greek Pantheon. Over time I discovered Hellenic Reconstructionism and "found" my spiritual "home". But I still had the choice of being Wiccan or Recon.... That was the choice part.

Answer 4

Short version:

I was raised without religion, desperately wanted to know what the fuss was about and choose to try to fit myself into fundamental christianity. The harder I tried the more emotionally confused I became and fell into agnosticism. Got tired of not knowing and tried to force myself into atheism which was just as miserable for me as trying to be a fundie.

In the end I have no true religion, more of a set of beliefs from a variety of sources that includes christianity, paganism, taoism and others. Some of those beliefs I have chosen, some have chosen me and all are subject to change based on my experiences.

Answer 5

Good question!

I chose God and kicked religion out. I grew up in a baptist church and became a Seventh Day Adventist and studied with the JWs for four years, Mormons came knocking at my door and I said ENOUGH!

I started really seeking God and praying. After moving to Garland Texas I lived across the street from this church I refused to go into because I saw so many white people leaving one day (ignorance, I know). But I went in one day and was filled with God's Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Changed my entire life, I have been living for God every since. It is an AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME EXPERIENCE. SO KICK RELIGION OUT AND CHOOSE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

This the reason God will not know so many people on the day of judgment because they only have religion, no relationship

God Bless You!!

Answer 6

As a child i was brought up as a christian.I carried the belief in a superior being ,the existence of heaven and hell and the day of recompence with me.I was young and believed the whole world was christian.As i grew older i came to know that not everyone excepted my beleifs.I questioned why God chose to guide some and not others.I felt it was a bit like luck then i question why would God misguide so many people that were trying so hard to please him ........like muslims who pray 5 times a day,fast 30 days from sunrise til sunset and give charity.The God i believe in would not punish good people it didnt make sense.So i wondered maybe what they believe is right....it seemed like a gamble but their was so much at stake eternal hell and heaven.It was at that point that i prayed to my creator to guide me to what would save me from the fire......it was a real sincer prayer from someone who was admitting that without Gods help i would not know what he wanted..I had let go of my pride and admitted my ignorance..God did guide me...I believe God guides those who sincerly want the truth...He knows who deserves to be guided.Some people will never find guidence becauce of their arrogance .We need to submit ourselves to what God wants not what we like.I became a Muslim,i studied about Islam and also Christian history.I can honestly say i have no doubts...To answer your question i think God choose me..I believe religion should not be inherted but should be a matter of reseach and choice..

Answer 7

Its a choice the same as you would make between coke and pepsi.

Although groupthink is a strong social force that weighs heavily on peoples decisions. It is also hard to reason with people if they have been indoctrinated into the belief system since they were children, the earlier you start the harder to break later. That is why there is such a strong movement toward children because their critical thinking tools are not developed enough to combat the fallacy laden logic.

The fact that they rely on peoples fears and insecurities about their own mortality also weighs heavy.

Answer 8

I believe that God draws us to Him. Why do we ask questions is it our curiousity or God gently drawing us?In the old testament God delivered the rules we had to live by to reach heaven,while from the beginning before the law a promise of a Messiah, knowing we ,being of a sinful nature would need a Saviour. God doesn't force His nature upon us. That happens by some well-meaning parents ,teachers and preachers,and the not so well-intended.Religions take a wrong turn when they force their beliefs on others. It is up to the individidual and God. In my opinion that is what is wrong with radical fundamentalists. Christ said they claim Abraham as their father ,yet their father is the father of lies. By the way jews,moslems and christians claim Abraham as their father. The radicals try to force what they believe to be righteousness on others.Christ told these kind of questioners that they make clean the outside of the cup(the outside appearence) and have not changed inside. They are still evil ,just hiding their inner desires under a cloak of self-righteousness. Christ said "Behold I stand and the door and knock. If anyone answers I'll come in and sup with them." He doesn't break the door down.

Answer 9

My religion "choose me" through my parents and I choose my religion after studying the different religions later on.

Answer 10

My religion chose me at first. I was raised a Catholic as a child. Now that I am getting older, I will have the choice to enter the church as an adult or to leave. I will continue my faith because, even after all these years, because I believe in what is taught through this religion.