Nature vs nurture when it comes to religion

[Tim]

I was raised in a Christian family, (Baptist to be exact) we would go to church 3-4 times a week; Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday prayer service and Thursday "soul winning" where we would pound the streets trying to save as many souls as we can. Until the age of 17, I never questioned my faith or the teachings of my religion... I was taught that we were the only religion that was correct in it's teachings since we used the Bible (the King James version) and only the Bible for our guide. We were taught the Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, JW's, etc. would all burn in hell simply because they were not "Christians"
Based on the above, I have always questioned who is right? What teachings or what religion is the right one? I was Christian because my parents were. My friend was Catholic because his parents were.
With all the different teachings in the world, how do you KNOW that you are following the right one? Did you ever question the sheer luck you must have to be born into a family that WAS following the right teachings?
How many of you Christians have read the Koran or any other religious text? There are religions that are thousands of years older than Christianity, are they the true teachings of God?

My question is this; Do you believe what you believe because you were raised to believe that? If you were born into a family with another belief system, wouldn't you be saying that it was that belief that was the "true" one?

 

[GraceAbounds]

I was raised in a different denomination. As I got older and read the Bible for myself, I didn't agree with that denomination, so I left.

As far as being born into another family, who knows, hindsight is always 20/20, so that question cannot be answered. My parents didn't go to church with me though. I went by myself while they sat at home smoking pot and what not.

I have studied other religions, not all of course, but am continuing to study more. I am not however aware of any major religions that are older than Christianity except Hinduism in written form.

 

[IntruderLS1]

That is a problem a lot of churches fall into. I think the Pope even did this recently. The problem with "Our Christianity or Death" is that the Bible is very very clear that this is not the case.

There are precious few basics to being a Christian. Believe, and ask for redemption. That's it.

The Bible is full of good advice on how to be a better Christian, but different people are going to see things differently, and Jesus spoke about it. I personally believe that God speaks to us all individually through His word.

I was raised as a Baptist then 7th-Day. Like Grace, after growing up and reading for myself, I am now non-denominational.

 

[Suzie]

I was raised as a Catholic. I honestly didnt know there was a difference between Catholic and Christian until you just mentioned it now Tim. I went to the CCD classes and never really payed attention... I was just forced to go. We went to church once a week. And after I took all my CCD classes, we didnt go much after that. I still said my prayers every night. My grandma was really religious and she lived with us... so we would go in her room at night and say our prayers to her. That faded after a while and I stopped saying my prayers for a while...then started back up again years later.
My husband was raised as a jehovah witness. He told me some stories that IMO are really sad. Since the majority of kids celebrate Christmas and he didnt, he always thought of what he would say the night before he went back to school after winter break. The kids would always ask what he got from Santa, and he always had some story made up, ready to tell them.
When I had my first son, he was baptized, but soon after that, was when all of the crap was coming on the news with the bad priests. So my next son wasnt baptized.
Right now, I am letting them grow up to believe in what they want to believe in. I teach them about what other people believe and Ill let them decide what they want to believe in.

 

[TheOriginalJames]

This is why I'm wholly against organized religion, but not against having a religion in itself.

Too many denominations who's leaders twist and turn things to fit their own meanings, and because of this they all think they are in the right and everyone else is wrong. I don't like how people who believe in roughly the same ideology can be so different and disagreeable in how it's interpreted.

 

[GraceAbounds]

This is why I'm wholly against organized religion, but not against having a religion in itself.

Too many denominations who's leaders twist and turn things to fit their own meanings, and because of this they all think they are in the right and everyone else is wrong. I don't like how people who believe in roughly the same ideology can be so different and disagreeable in how it's interpreted.

IMO, that is because people depend on others to be spoon fed the Word instead of reading it or trying to walk it themselves. Or they are brought up in churches that don't allow anything to be questioned and discussed.

Jesus speaks of people that are not going to understand and people that are going to misrepresent the Word. So I guess it doesn't bother me in the sense you are talking about as I was forewarned so I'm not surprised by it.

I agree with you though that religion kills. When we get so caught up in what everyone else is doing or not doing instead of concentrating on changing, growing and maturing ourselves and loving others, it all gets screwed up. It is hard to find a faith based church. Most churches are works based even though they claim otherwise IMO.

 

[All Else Failed]

I was raised in a Christian family, (Baptist to be exact) we would go to church 3-4 times a week; Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday prayer service and Thursday "soul winning" where we would pound the streets trying to save as many souls as we can. Until the age of 17, I never questioned my faith or the teachings of my religion... I was taught that we were the only religion that was correct in it's teachings since we used the Bible (the King James version) and only the Bible for our guide. We were taught the Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, JW's, etc. would all burn in hell simply because they were not "Christians"
Based on the above, I have always questioned who is right? What teachings or what religion is the right one? I was Christian because my parents were. My friend was Catholic because his parents were.
With all the different teachings in the world, how do you KNOW that you are following the right one? Did you ever question the sheer luck you must have to be born into a family that WAS following the right teachings?
How many of you Christians have read the Koran or any other religious text? There are religions that are thousands of years older than Christianity, are they the true teachings of God?

My question is this; Do you believe what you believe because you were raised to believe that? If you were born into a family with another belief system, wouldn't you be saying that it was that belief that was the "true" one?

People think they KNOW they are part of the right religion because they either believe they are because of deep faith, or just because people tell them they are. Its definitely nurture for the most part.

I was raised in a different denomination. As I got older and read the Bible for myself, I didn't agree with that denomination, so I left.

As far as being born into another family, who knows, hindsight is always 20/20, so that question cannot be answered. My parents didn't go to church with me though. I went by myself while they sat at home smoking pot and what not.

I have studied other religions, not all of course, but am continuing to study more. I am not however aware of any major religions that are older than Christianity except Hinduism in written form.

All forms of paganism.

 

[Suzie]

I think some stuff is being brainwashed into people. Johns parents put more money into their "kingdom hall" then they do in trying to survive. They have yet to pay a visit to us in the 10 years John has moved away from them. We have visited them 3 times. I think if they spend less money giving to their Kingdom Hall and stop complaining about the lack of money they have...they would be able to see their son and grandchildren.

 

[GraceAbounds]

I think some stuff is being brainwashed into people. Johns parents put more money into their "kingdom hall" then they do in trying to survive. They have yet to pay a visit to us in the 10 years John has moved away from them. We have visited them 3 times. I think if they spend less money giving to their Kingdom Hall and stop complaining about the lack of money they have...they would be able to see their son and grandchildren.

Is a 'Kingdom Hall' their tithing/offering?

 

[Suzie]

Yeah... Ive never been into one before. But I hear its like a church, where they worship "Jehova", and attend all kinds of meetings.

 

[groundpounder]

good debate starter, Tim. Way to be RECKLESS!