Has anyone else felt that it is ridiculous to "believe" in a religion just because one's parents do?

Question

I was raised a Catholic and was forced to go to church every week and to Sunday school. I made sure to pray every night, not out of any specific spiritual feelings, but because I was afraid that if I didn't I'd go to hell. I started having doubts when I was 15, and in the last 5 years I've decided I am not a Catholic. I'm just open-minded at this point, looking to learn, and trying to be a good person with no urgent need of a religion.

Has anyone else thought about how many people are a member of a religion because that's the religion their parents are? I wonder how many people that say they are religious say so because they are afraid to say otherwise. I wonder how many of those believers have serious doubts. I attended Christmas mass yesterday with my family (to avoid upsetting them), and noticed a lack of passion. If I was a true believer in something as profound as the story of Christianity I'd be a little more excited about it. No offense to believers.

Any similar feelings?

Answer 1

I was raised in a strictly christian home, and it never really rang true with me. I can't say I ever believed in what we did, or in what the bible said, but of course I was forced to pray etc. I never felt that I was really talking to god, or that much of what I was taught in church was the truth. I've always basically been an atheist - it's just the way I am. I don't feel guilty or anything for going against my mother's beliefs - although she seems obsessed with changing me into a christian & it has greatly injured our relationship. Nevertheless, I can't make myself believe what seems to be a lie, so I just have to put up with it.
No-one can tell you what is right or wrong for you- that's between you and the gods (if you believe in them). Just because your parents are your parents, doesn't make them right about everything. You need to make your own way through life.

Answer 2

OH WOW!!!!!! I am totally in that stage right now. When I was little, I was raised by a christian family, praying in fear of going to hell...I would always have questions but I would never say them out loud in fear of being dammed. But this year, I became really close friends with my Choir Teacher, and he is into hinduism and buhdism...sort of...actually, it's his own "religion" based off of those two but...the books he has had me read, made sense, and though he has to be careful about talking to me in school....after school he has told me lots of things about life that make sense. I don't like this christian thing anymore, but I am TERRIFIED of what my parents were to think if I told them that...so I go to church and silently believe my on believes.
I still get that scared feeling of going to hell, and all that but my teacher told me that it was a feeling that I could let pass as HE did when he was a kid growing up in a christian family just like us.

I think more and more, people are being supprotive of eachother to become their own people; without their parents.

Answer 3

Hi,
I grew up in a Christian family. When I was old enough not to have to go to church with them, I didn't. I began doing whatever I wanted when I wanted. Drugs, stealing, alcohol, mostly out of rebellion I guess. Many years were like this, I thought being the "king" of my life would make me happy. It didn't, something was still missing. God got a hold of me somehow, I certainly wasnt looking for him. Anyway long story short I gave my life to Jesus. I would say Im a Christian now accept it no longer means what it use to. I am a follower of Christ.
Dont believe because your parents do, believe because you do. Also, you owe it to yourself to try out a different church, I know many Catholics that have become Christians, trust me, it is not the same thing.
God Bless,

In His love,

Answer 4

A person doesn't become a Christian by being born into a Christian family. Becoming a Christian is a decision. It's a choice. Everyone has to make it, even if they're born into a family that goes to church every Sunday.

Most Catholics are not Christians. Catholicism hides the realities of Christianity and makes it very difficult to find because of all the trappings it adds.

Answer 5

I was raised Catholic too, now I'm just a Christian and do not attend religious services. I don't mind that my parents raised me in a faith, though, because that's how I started believing in God.

Answer 6

I totally agree/understand. My family and I are totally different religions(to say the least). I knew at a young age it just wasn't for me. I just couldn't rectify the teaching to the gospel. I'm glad for a biblical base. But the Bible says we must study to show thyself approved.So, I felt I had to do what I felt was right. Many years later my family is still mad.

Answer 7

You really should read Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. They both have excellent books about organised religion and how it poisons people and the catholic church has been doing that since Christ was crucified.

Answer 8

Of course it's ridiculous, but I will bet you that an overwhelming majority of the believers on here are of the same religion as their parents. This illustrates just how much thought they put into it.

Answer 9

It is ridiculous, but most of those people don't realize it because their parents indoctrinated them into their religion. When children are indoctrinated into a system like religion, it is very hard for them to break away later on.

Answer 10

Basically everyone growing up is the same religion as their parents, but the smart people realize that religions are garbage.