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Old 06-24-2019, 04:49 AM
 
Location: SoCal
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It seems that religion is totally dependant on where one was born, and grew up. Based on this observation I find it hard to believe that I'm somehow "special" and born into the "right" religion. It seems almost arrogant, and unfair to people who haven't been exposed to religion to be in the wrong.
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Old 06-24-2019, 05:08 AM
 
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I wouldn't say 100%. but yes, its a lot.

I think insightful people understand that. They understand that they believe in "something" and that they would be whatever religion expresses that something wrap in the social norms of an area they born in.
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Old 06-24-2019, 05:08 AM
 
Location: Valencia, Spain
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sean1the1 View Post
It seems that religion is totally dependant on where one was born, and grew up. Based on this observation I find it hard to believe that I'm somehow "special" and born into the "right" religion. It seems almost arrogant, and unfair to people who haven't been exposed to religion to be in the wrong.
Quite so. It appears to be a fact that one adopts the religion (or lack of it) of one's parents. If you are born into and grow up in a Christian home which is situated in a Christian country, then the chances that you will become a Hindu are, well...zero really. Well, not until you are old enough to go out into the world and make your own decisions.
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Old 06-24-2019, 06:35 AM
 
Location: Elsewhere
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sean1the1 View Post
It seems that religion is totally dependant on where one was born, and grew up. Based on this observation I find it hard to believe that I'm somehow "special" and born into the "right" religion. It seems almost arrogant, and unfair to people who haven't been exposed to religion to be in the wrong.
Of course it is. Not 100%, of course, as Arach said, as many people gravitate toward a different religion than the one they grew up with or toward one if they were not raised with one at all, or away from all religion even though they may have been raised with one. We all know people who fit these categories, don't we?

And of course it's "unfair" to consider people wrong who haven't been exposed to the religion another thinks is the "right" one.

I am not sure where you're going with this. You seem to be simply making obvious statements.
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Old 06-24-2019, 06:38 AM
 
Location: Maryland
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This realization, that religion is largely cultural, was one of several things that eventually led me to disbelief in all religions.
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Old 06-24-2019, 06:51 AM
 
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Originally Posted by LesLucid View Post
This realization, that religion is largely cultural, was one of several things that eventually led me to disbelief in all religions.
same here. but then I moved from disbelief in all religions to why are they here if they, so clearly, are wrong?

people are stupid?
people are delusional?
people need an emotional anchor point?

I had to ask myself ... is that enough to explain it?
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Old 06-24-2019, 07:30 AM
 
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Originally Posted by Arach Angle View Post
I wouldn't say 100%. but yes, its a lot.

I think insightful people understand that. They understand that they believe in "something" and that they would be whatever religion expresses that something wrap in the social norms of an area they born in.
Well said, Arach. I don't always agree with (or perhaps understand) everything you write, but this is spot on.
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Old 06-24-2019, 07:53 AM
 
Location: Sun City West, Arizona
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sean1the1 View Post
It seems that religion is totally dependant on where one was born, and grew up. Based on this observation I find it hard to believe that I'm somehow "special" and born into the "right" religion. It seems almost arrogant, and unfair to people who haven't been exposed to religion to be in the wrong.
I don't think there's any question about it. There may be some fine-tuning in some countries (such as the United States) where one may self-select a particular christian denomination, and of course there are some people (like myself) who will go in a different direction (in my case, Buddhism), but for the most part, people follow what their parents and the culture follow.

I've seen quite a few christians make switches like methodist to presbyterian, but that is often due to liking or not liking a particular minister or the way a particular church is run...but that's a rather mild choice. And here we see some people who have become atheists, but that's still not "common". In my case the change to Buddhism came due to world travel and experiencing a few other countries.

But to be honest, I've come to the conclusion that most people in most countries are simply sheep that take on religion without actually thinking about all the principles that make up a religion. Most christians don't really think deeply about the principles of christianity beyond a very few big ones that predominate. They simply swallow it all, give lip service, and act on little of it. And the same can be said for other religions, as well.
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Old 06-24-2019, 08:31 AM
 
Location: Missouri, USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sean1the1 View Post
It seems that religion is totally dependant on where one was born, and grew up. Based on this observation I find it hard to believe that I'm somehow "special" and born into the "right" religion. It seems almost arrogant, and unfair to people who haven't been exposed to religion to be in the wrong.
And after that, it buries itself deep into the culture so that getting away from it means, at best, some interest in going against the grain.

I know a lot of people just don't care about anything that doesn't affect themselves, their friends, and their families. I figure, for them, just following along with their religions is the easiest route, and that's the reason for the spread of much of religion. Getting away from their religions could endanger the sorts of relationships that their worlds revolve around.
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Old 06-24-2019, 09:13 AM
 
Location: S. Wales.
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Originally Posted by HeelaMonster View Post
Well said, Arach. I don't always agree with (or perhaps understand) everything you write, but this is spot on.

I concur - we are taught the local religion. We may grow out of it to another viewpoint on religion, but that's how it starts.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clintone View Post
And after that, it buries itself deep into the culture so that getting away from it means, at best, some interest in going against the grain.

I know a lot of people just don't care about anything that doesn't affect themselves, their friends, and their families. I figure, for them, just following along with their religions is the easiest route, and that's the reason for the spread of much of religion. Getting away from their religions could endanger the sorts of relationships that their worlds revolve around.
That's true too. The way religion works is to gain and keep a grip on society - though the rulers, through the family and if at all possible, the military, as whoever has the military behind them can sit secure.
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