Born or Converted?

[lizskid]

I could echo Dawny's last part. It continues to be a journey, but I am Christian. I am not part of a specific denomination at this time. I was born in a Christian family, my father attended church regularly until his health prohibited it, my mother did not attend much after I was about 5, but she believed. I don't know that there is any advantage to being born into Christianity as opposed to turning to it later in life.

 

[Booko]

Were you born into your religion or did you convert to it later in life?

Just like Uncle Ben's rice -- Converted.

Depending on which religion you belong, in your opinion, is there any benefit to being born into it as compared to conversion?

Hm. I could've gotten an early start, I suppose. On the other hand, having converted, I know I came to this religion because I believe it, and not just because I'm following parental orders.

There are advantages either way.

 

[Hope]

I was "born" into Christianity, and while I called myself a Christian most of my younger years (just to fit in, and avoid others harassing me), I did not have a born-again experience with Christ until I was 20. He's taken me on quite a journey since then, helping the scales gradually fall from my eyes, so to speak, because I used to be so blinded to what true Christian faith is, because of the hypocritical, superficial brand I witnessed growing up. It grieves me deeply that so many still turn away from Christ, simply because of the failings of the church. Despite all the wrongs I've witnessed and experienced at the hands of "religion", however, Jesus Christ has yet to disappoint me, and my life would be empty and meaningless without Him.

 

[Atman]

Namaste all.

I was raised as a non-denominational liberal Christian, but I became interested in Buddhism and Hinduism around August of last year, and now consider myself to be a Hindu.

 

[Luke_17:2]

I was born into a Baptist family.

But being born isn't the same as being born again -that occurred later.

 

[Aasimar]

Born into a Pentecostal family, Christian until age 14. Agnostic until 22 at which point I realized I was mis-using the word. Atheist 22 onward. Deeply saddened that I was brought up to believe in that garbage for as long as I did, but life moves on.

 

[Sunstone]

I was raised a church attending agnostic. By the time I was 15 or so, I knew belief and faith weren't in my nature.

 

[Quagmire]

I was born into Dontworrybehappyism. Then, sometime around 4, my parents made me convert to Catholisim. After decades of checking out different religions and thought systems I finally realised my original belief system was the only one that made any sense and I wound up right where I started.

 

[Sunstone]

Then, sometime around 4, my parents made me convert to Catholisim.

Was it Oscar Wilde who said, "Parents, priests, and teachers are the natural enemies of youth"?

 

[Sunstone]

Now for THAT is where my Christian compassion kicks in. It must stink going through life without the ability to believe in abstract things...

I was referring to faith or belief in deity. Sorry not to be specific.

 

[Luke_17:2]

Oh, I see.

I didn't think it really made sense...

 

[Sunstone]

Oh, I see.

I didn't think it really made sense...

It's understandable that not everything makes sense to you. It seems there is no person alive to whom everything makes sense. But if you're open minded enough, your understanding will increase during your lifetime.

 

[jewscout]

raised as...well...nothing in particular

and then converted to Judaism

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

There are some advantages to being borne into a religion.
Possibly the major one is that you seem to instinctively know the answers to questions concerning that religion, that you have not met before.
This is probably because you have absorbed the ethos of the religion over time, rather than just the words.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings!

I became a Baha'i as an adult after having been religiously active all my life!

And IMHO, no, there's no "advantage" to being born into a faith!

Indeed, in the Baha'i Faith, one CAN'T be born into it: in order to be a member at or after the Age of Maturity (15), one has to make a positive decision/request to join! Otherwise, one isn't a Baha'i.

Best,

Bruce

 

[Mike182]

i was born and raised in an evangelical Christian church, and then converted to Paganism at 17.

 

[Quagmire]

Was it Oscar Wilde who said, "Parents, priests, and teachers are the natural enemies of youth"?

That's the man. :yes:

 

[arthra]

Were you born into your religion or did you convert to it later in life?
Depending on which religion you belong, in your opinion, is there any benefit to being born into it as compared to conversion?

In my case I became a Baha'i at around age twenty five years. I was raised a Baptist. I think someone who adopts a Faith usually has more conscious reasons for accepting it... My children were raised in a Baha'i home and chose to become Baha'is around their fifteenth year.

Sometimes I think when you are born into a family with religious values there can be a tendency to accept them without as much appreciation for them. While those who accept the religion later in life have striven and worked to get there.

- Art

 

[Buttercup]

Hey, Luke 17:2....a helpful hint: Be respectful.

 

[Luke_17:2]

How was I disrespectful, praytell?

I responded to ill-covceived arguments with great plainess of speech, as Paul advises Christians to.