Christians, so we can put the brainwashing issue to rest, how many of you were raised to be Christian and how?

Question

many of you became a Christian as an adult, without being raised in a Christian home?

I became a Christian at 19 and was not raised in a Christian home.

Toadaly: Yes, we can, but only through hours and hours of repetition. If you spend more time on front of your television than you do in Church, then which one is more likely to brainwash you?

Uliju 2007: Growing up in a nation that is predominantly Christian is not even close to brainwashing or all of us would be converting, which is clearly not the case. I asked a question, making no assumptions, but trying to get atheists to see that many of us were not raised in Christian homes and, therefor, their brainwashing argument simply does not apply to all or even most Christians. Finally, did you pull those statistics out of thin air? I don't believe for one second that 4 out 5 Christians were raised in a Christian home and didn't people begin to leave Christianity in droves in the 60's and 70's? So, yes, many of us were raised in non-Christian homes.

Terry: I would define a Christian as someone that has accepted the gift of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and believes that the Holy Spirit lives inside them. I am not talking about people that say they are Christians only because that is their family tradition.

Answer 1

I became one at 25 and was not raised as one. None of my friends are either.

I think people say its brainwashing to label a phenomena of understanding the intangible.

Answer 2

I was raised christian, my parents told me why I was christian though, and at a certain age, I chose for myself, I researched it and read books, and have read book against christianity too, gone to conferences, everything, I am very much into science, and other things, and love to discuss issues with people, I decided, of my own free will, when I came of age, that I was still a christian.

That is how I intend to raise my children, they will be christians with me and I will tell them why, then when they are old enough it will be their decision, but I will have told them why.

Jessica - feel free to email

- btw, what is more brainwashing is the way kids behaive on tv, which shows kids how they 'should' act, and the BRATZ dolls and such which glamorize being spoiled little BRATS.


Oh, a better statistic is this -

Approx. 75% of people raised in a christian home loose their faith after highschool.

Answer 3

I was raised in a Christian home; both parents are Christian.

My mom's sister (74) and her son (38) just became Christians about 12 years ago.

My husband wasn't raised in a Christian home either. When we first met, he stated he wouldn't convert. But I did ask if he'd be willing to come to church with me. He agreed and kept coming every week. He liked it so much, he was baptized into Christ the following year, a couple weeks before we got married.

Answer 4

I was raised in a Christian home and at age 10 dealing with some huge issues in my life (Grandmother died in front of me on Christmas day, 4 other deaths and parents seperated) I left Christianity for almost 15 years, studying all of the -isms out there. So I've been basically everything you can be at one point or another religiously.

I returned to my faith at about 25 simply because I found other religions to be more complicated and still lacking in the fundamental answers I sought. Christianity being a pretty straightforward and simple faith based on love made great sense to me.

Answer 5

I was raised by divorced parents. My mom was a devout Baptist and my dad professed no faith, but I lived with my dad. I was on the fence.

I became an atheist after my mom's passing in an apartment fire, believing no loving God would allow such a thing to happen to a loyal servant.

I became an active Christian in August 2006 after the first prayer I asked in 12 years was answered directly. Studies, secular and spiritual, that I've done since then have only reinforced my faith.

Answer 6

I was raised in Christian household.
Because something is taught from parent to child doesn't make it brainwashing. Good parents pass on the worthwhile knowledge they have gleaned through life. While teaching me Catholic ways, my parents also taught me to eat 3 square meals, dress properly, and how to play baseball. None of these activities are instinctual and all have served me well.
Save the brainwashing for the Atheists, who pressure each other to stay true to disbelief to postpone the realization that there will be consequences of their action. It's called whistling past the graveyard.

Answer 7

I was raised in a Christian home and went to a Christian school. Going to the Christian school was taking it too far for me. I didn't like it, but I'm still a Christian

Answer 8

Before I could answer your question I'd have to know what your definition of "Christian" is. I would suspect that's it's a very narrow definition, meaning that you had to perform some specific act or believe just the way you do in order to be considered "Christian".

I wonder what you were before you were a Christian. Were you Jewish in your beliefs?

I grew up in a small town, 3,500 people, and I dare say that if I'd ask each and every one of them if they were Christian they would have answered in the affirmative.

Maybe they didn't believe the same as I did but they considered themselves Christians.

To you I ask: Christians as opposed to what?

Answer 9

I was raised in a Christian home, but spent most of my life as a skeptic. I was even into witchcraft for a few years.

Became a Christian for the first time in my life one year ago, at the age of 25.

Answer 10

I was raised in a partial Christian home. My Mom was and my Dad wasn't. But my Dad always left my teaching to my Mom. He was a very honest and honorable man ,but just not a Christian. When I left home I grew away from the church. I thought the world could offer me more. Boy, was I wrong. I got into all kinds of trouble. It took a long time for me to go to church and learn all over again. I'd gone thru a divorce before I wised up. Since I gave my heart to Jesus I've never had more peace and joy (even tho my kids drive me crezy at times) But, I keep praying for them just like my parents did for me.(My Dad had finally given his heart to Jesus due to MY MOMS prayers.) Their prayers got me and I'm going to get my kids with my prayers too.