If nobody ever taught them to, would children believe in "god"?

Answer 1

Of course not. Many of us don't believe even if we were taught. I was 17 when I realised that adults around me took the stories about Jesus for real, and that scared me. I considered it mithology

Answer 2

They most certainly would not (assuming they never came into contact with anything religious - the bible, a priest preaching to them, etc). While they may decide at some point that there would be some "higher-being", they most definitely would not recognize any one specific god in the same way someone taught about the god would.

I would even question whether or not they would get that far.

Think of it in this way. You are aware that there are these tiny things called atoms that make-up most of what we see (and don't see) around us (and no, I won't bother going into smaller fundamental particles), because you were taught about them. But, we can't really see these atoms (I'll assume the children won't be using electron microscopes any time soon, just like they hypothetically won't be exposed to religious material), we are only aware that they are there because we are taught this is the case (again, assume that I'm not talking about the minority who DO directly observe atoms due to their work, etc). If you were never taught about these atoms, and you were never exposed the the possibility of their existence, would you really expect yourself to somehow at some point just realize or believe that they were there?

Further more, if apparently mysterious events, such as the sun rising and setting (such things that are said to be the original cause of religion, because early humans used religion to explain them) were explained to these children scientifically, they would be left with virtually no reason to believe in a god (or gods).

Answer 3

Absolutely not.

In the west, we call it indoctrination. Essentially, this is enforcing the parent's belief on the child. It is cruel and barbaric. My children are free to take up which ever religion they choose with their own free will, if they choose to do so, being an atheist though, I silently hope they choose none.

A child is born with no notion or understanding of the world it inhabits. The parents, family and other sources (like tv, friends, day care etc) teach the child how to interact with it's universe.

Evidence to support this is the Australian Aboriginals and African tribes. They had no notion of 'god/s' until it was taught to them. Even then, they refused to submit to the christian dogma and conviluded theocracy.

I thouroughly hope that anyone who answers 'yes' to this question actually explains their answer.

Answer 4

I think the basic element of the "God" idea is the tendency to anthropomorphize, to project human qualities on to the universe. So I think that idea could easily arise again among people who had never heard of any of the traditional conceptions of "God."

After all, how have people conceived of God? As a human father on a cosmic scale. And obviously this idea won't withstand rational criticism; the difficulties re: the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Perfect Being who nonetheless creates imperfect beings and then punishes them for their imperfections have been pointed out often enough. But the idea speaks to a deeper emotional place in people; and if they lack the critical capacity to analyze the delusion, it's likely to hold them.

Answer 5

It's a taught control behaviour. Just like any religion. It's all about controlling the masses. Not such a bad idea when it's done with good intentions.

... it's when the control of the weak minds gets into the wrong hands that it goes horribly wrong.

Answer 6

Some would some wouldn't. Some would believe in the sun and the stars and over time believe the sun is God. After all the sun brings light, life to vegitation and warmth. From this, they would form stories based on astrological phenomena to tell their children. Then from these stories, some would break off and form organized religions based on the stories. Then after these stories were passed down from generation to generation over thousands and thousands of years, here we are.

Answer 7

Somewhat.

If you look at children's fantasies, they have some pretty strong common elements - either a more or less benevolent 'imaginary friend' and a closet- or under-the-bed-dwelling 'bogeyman'. I don't know if the Imagibogeyfriend would specifically want them to abstain from the eating of shellfish, but the broad elements of the concept seem to be there.

Answer 8

We have an inborn tendency toward magical thinking and a willingness to accept the supernatural. It requires disciplined thought to overcome these tendencies.

Consider the vast number of gods, demons, and spirits thought up by isolated tribes of humans---that's what children are most likely to come up with on their own.

Answer 9

Excellant question. They would probably see thunder or lightning and believe someone or something was up there. And then they would probably make up stories as to how the lightning and stars and clouds got there and people would start believing those stories.

When you think about it....it seems strange that most religious people learned about their particular religion from their parents. And yet they are so positive that THEIR particular religion is the right one. If you grew up in a Muslim family - you are positive that the Muslim religion is correct. Jewish think they are correct. Etc.

Answer 10

I know I would have. I remember my first memory of God... I was 3 years old and really scared because... well, i don't remember exactly, but i remember there was something really scary in my room and was so afraid I could not get out of my room and go to my parent's room like i usually could. The first thing I thought of as a solution to this, was God. Thankfully i had just learned a song at church. It was called "I am a child of God" I sang what i knew of the song over and over again until I settled down and was able to sleep. It was more than just a comforting feeling that your able to give yourself, it was as if I was lifted into a place where nothing could hurt me. A place of ultimate protection.... I never forgot that feeling.

Answer 11

Nope. They would probably make up really cute and creative stories to make the world a coherent place (which is the purpose religion serves for most people anyway).