Conversion to religion

[AJL308]

It's often said that people only have religious belief due to having had a religious upbringing.

Is this true?

Does anyone know of anyone who has converted to a religion despite never having had any religious upbringing or influences in their youth? If there are people I can't imagine there are many.

Actual religion though; not Star Wars fans geeks who claim to be Jedis or radical athiests who follow the flying spaghetti monster.

[AJL308]

scenario8 said:

Loads of people find religion in adulthood. I would imagine tens of thousands in the UK alone are born again Christians. (I think it's called) The Alpha course is hugely popular and successful. Finding Islam in adulthood is hardly an un-heard of phenomenon either. I imagine other faiths receive late entrants in similar fashions, too.

But how many do so with no previous religious influence at all? Being a 'born again' christian means essentially going back to Christianity, I think?

Yes, people find Islam in adulthood but, again, how many come to it from a completely non-religious upbringing?

[AJL308]

battered said:

No, it's not exclusively true.

If you don't imagine that there are many adult converts, you probably are mistaken.

One of the 7.7 London bombers was a normal teenager that a mate of mine taught. Not religious as a kid, liked football and his mates, radicalised as a young adult, blew up a bus in the name of religion.

Did he have a totally non-religious upbringing though? No influence of religion at home at any time?

[AJL308]

kowalski655 said:

AJL308 said:

...
Actual religion though; not Star Wars fans geeks who claim to be Jedis or radical athiests who follow the flying spaghetti monster.

Both of those have just as much sense in them as any other religion

Agree entirely. I was asking about the things that are generally recognised as actual religions though.

[AJL308]

battered said:

Derek Smith said:

. Having your body messed with was seen as bad whereas having your mind twisted was not.

Nice display of your prejudices there. All religion is twisting people's minds, is it? Very well reasoned.

It is twisting minds though, isn't it? Convincing people to believe things which are clearly irrational is just that.

[AJL308]

BigLion said:

AJL308 said:

battered said:

Derek Smith said:

. Having your body messed with was seen as bad whereas having your mind twisted was not.

Nice display of your prejudices there. All religion is twisting people's minds, is it? Very well reasoned.

It is twisting minds though, isn't it? Convincing people to believe things which are clearly irrational is just that.

Everything is clearly irrational? Have you read up on the various religions to have come to that view?

What rational argument is there for the belief that a woman gave birth, without having sex, to the son of a supernatural, omnipotent deity, who was specifically sent to suffer for mankinds wrong doings?

What is rational about some bloke building a massive boat which was able to hold two of every creature on earth because said deity got pissed with everyone and decided to murder them?

What is remotely rational about wanting to murder people because they do a drawing of the deity you worship?

God does not exist. Saying that it does IS irrational.

[AJL308]

BigLion said:

AJL308 said:

BigLion said:

AJL308 said:

battered said:

Derek Smith said:

. Having your body messed with was seen as bad whereas having your mind twisted was not.

Nice display of your prejudices there. All religion is twisting people's minds, is it? Very well reasoned.

It is twisting minds though, isn't it? Convincing people to believe things which are clearly irrational is just that.

Everything is clearly irrational? Have you read up on the various religions to have come to that view?

What rational argument is there for the belief that a woman gave birth, without having sex, to the son of a supernatural, omnipotent deity, who was specifically sent to suffer for mankinds wrong doings?

What is rational about some bloke building a massive boat which was able to hold two of every creature on earth because said deity got pissed with everyone and decided to murder them?

What is remotely rational about wanting to murder people because they do a drawing of the deity you worship?

God does not exist. Saying that it does IS irrational.

I don't believe in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism etc. but I believe there is a good chance a life form superior to us could have created the universe.

Which is a vaguely rational statement. It's got sod all to do with religion though - or the point I responded to.

Suggesting that something might be the case is entirely different from deciding that it is definitely true, based on no evidence what-so-ever, basing your entire life upon it and employing the tactic of mass murder against people who disagree with you.