livendive 8 #1 November 9, 2006 It doesn't seem all that uncommon for me to meet people who have "converted" to atheism or agnosticism, despite having been raised by parent(s) who professed belief in a god. Seeing people go the other way is pretty uncommon (raised atheist/agnostic and come to believe in a god). The most common, however, seems to be to agree with our parents, e.g. persons raised christian/jewish/muslim/hindu/atheist/agnostic/buddhist remain in that general sect, even if they switch denominations or sub-beliefs. I'm guessing that people won't want to admit that their belief systems are more "inherited" than independently arrived at, so there might be some less than honest votes, but the question at least seems worth asking. Personally, I spent the first part of my childhood in a christian home, and the latter in an agnostic home. Not surprizingly, I also spent the first part of my life as a christian and the latter as an agnostic (though the "switch" was a few years offset from my changing homes). Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #2 November 9, 2006 My parents believe in God & raised me as a Catholic. As a teenager I drifted away from that. In college I studied biology, which enormously strengthened my belief in God. As I got out & worked as a scientist I learned more & more about the mechanisms of cell & molecular biology which, again, re-enforced my belief in God, but not in organized religion so much. It wasn't until I was in my 30s or so that I decided to really do some reading & thinking about WTF is going on. I finally had my second, and true, "Confirmation" when I was about 32 or so, and decided that Christ was central to the whole thing. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #3 November 9, 2006 QuoteMy parents believe in God & raised me as a Catholic. ...... I finally had my second, and true, "Confirmation" when I was about 32 or so, and decided that Christ was central to the whole thing. I suspect that if you hadn't been raised in a Christian household, and in a predominantly Christian country, there'd be much less of a chance of you coming to that belief in the centrality of Christ as the core of your personal theology. So I tend to say "yes", it's mostly contingent on upbringing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiles 0 #4 November 9, 2006 My mom raised us 3 kids on her own... no religion, no atheist/agnostic.... A great childhood experience was the excitement of going to a sunday school where I played with other kids and colored and had stories read to me, one elderly lady played the piano and we learned to sing "Jesus loves me." The minister came to our door with an envelope for my mom (united church congregation) with money that was collected to "help us out." My mother refused it, and we didn't go to sunday school after that. I suppose she didn't want anyone to think she was anything but independent. One lesson I learned as a child for sure was strength in being "independent" and thinking "independently." Knowledge systems include mechanisms for testing assertions against observable reality, and belief systems don't. Aligned belief- chosen after careful consideration of options or alternatives. Assigned belief- acquired from ones familiar, cultural and religious background and accepted like a task or role assigned to the believer rather than chosen on a voluntary basis. Blind belief-refuses to be questioned or examined, contrast to open belief. Fundamentalist belief- received from tradition and not allowed to be altered, or questioned. ........... *** Once there was a philosopher fish. As he was in great misery and worry, another fish passed his way and asked "why are you in such misery?" The philosopher fish said, "wherever I go everyone is talking about the ocean. I went east, west, north,south, and cannot find this ocean." For the philosopher fish, belief in the ocean is not enough- he wants to experience it for himself. Now the problem is, he is also part of the ocean. He is unable to perceive the ocean because he has no adequate tool of perception. SMileseustress. : a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackC 0 #5 November 10, 2006 I went to church a few times when I was six or seven and I remember listening to the pastor and thinking "you're talking complete bollocks mate". I've been an atheist ever since. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
