Is religious affiliation a choice?

[ButterflyBlood]

This has been debated a bit in the past with some arguing that one can't choose what they are born into or their native culture which may be based around a religion or sect. I have to definitely say though that while obviously can't choose what they are born into or what culture, they do make a choice as an adult to continue to remain in that if they do, and thus yes, it is a choice. In fact per one study 44% of Americans have some type of religious affiliation (or lack thereof) different from what they were raised in, another 9% converted at some point and then reverted to their childhood affiliation...meaning 53%, an actual majority in the US have changed religious affiliation at some point.

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[cbayer]

1. I don't think this is a yes or no question.

The discussion about whether belief or faith is a choice has been had here in the past.

Some, including myself, think it may not be a choice for everyone. The argument has been made that there may be similarities to sexuality. Some people can not choose not to believe, they just "know" it to be true. Others can not choose to believe, they just "know" that it is not true.

Affiliation, on the other hand, is probably more of a choice. While one is perhaps more likely to stick with the groups and institutions that they grew up with and are familiar with, others may hear a different calling and change affiliation.

[socialindependocrat]

2. I've heard parents complain....

I was in a Unitarian church where people usually go when they are tired of their
conservative church or want their kids exposed to a variety of religions. I've
heard the parents complain that hey gave their kids this opportunity to be exposed
to a very liberal religion and when they get married and are going to have kids they
end up in a conservative religion.

Do a lot of kids choose the opposite from what they are born into (44% - right?)

I would think that children would have some of the learnings ingrained in their
thinking during their "formative years" - I guess half do.

What makes them change and what makes them stay?

[rrneck]

3. It's a choice in a culture that offers a choice. nt

[gcomeau]

4. Answered "yes", however...

The choice comes in on the decision to critically subject your beliefs to objective examination and the weight of evidence.

Whether the evidence then compels a shift in belief? Less of a choice. Also comes down to basic issues of ability to understand what you're being told/shown and *what* you're being told/shown.

You don't just "choose to believe" something. There's a few more steps than that. (If you disagree, try choosing to believe Santa exists. Right now. REALLY believing it.)

[rug]

16. At a certain point epistemology stops and a decision is made.

You're right about critical examination but the inherent uncertainty of knowledge, imo, prevents a compulsion to belief or nonbelief. At one point the individual must make his or her own decision to believe or not to believe, using his or her own best judgment. This is not limited to the realm of religion.

[No Vested Interest]

5. Johnny One-Note

Let's keep discussing this/
Over
and
Over
and Over
and Over
and Over

[Iggo]

7. Okay!

[cleanhippie]

6. It depends. As children, we have little, if any choice at all.

And children that grow up having been indoctrinated into a religion may be unable or unwilling to see that a choice even exists. We see that demonstrated everyday. But that is a different question.

To compare this to sexuality is ludicrous, IMO, as its a false equivalency that confuses general belief with religious belief. We are believing creatures and that is not up for dispute. Our brains are hard-wired to believe all manner of things, but as conscious, self-aware, and (generally) rational humans, we have the undeniable ability to choose whether to believe in a particular religion or not, especially in the face of factual evidence that believing in a particular religion is contrary to the actual world we live in (reality).


To get honest answers, this needs to be kept within the scope of religious belief. And I think th answer is YES, belief in a religion is a choice.

[dimbear]

8. We can certainly hope that the answer is yes, but it depends on the level of brainwashing.

The more fundamentalist, the less choice you're likely to have.

[rug]

9. Is nonbelief a choice?

[Phillip McCleod]

10. definitely.

..and a conscious one at that.

[rug]

11. I tend to agree.

[gcomeau]

13. See post #4... -eom

[Jim__]

12. I hope that everyone who accepts that religious affiliation is a choice, accepts that people ...

... have free will.

I accept both that people have free will and that religious affiliation is a choice. I have had discussions with people on this forum in the past that deny the existence of free will.

[gcomeau]

14. Religious affiliation and belief refer to different things. -eom

[Jim__]

15. And? Why are you bringing up belief?

[gcomeau]

17. Sorry... post above yours got my mind on a different track... -nt

[ZombieHorde]

18. If everything is determined by cause and effect, then no.

If everything is not determined by cause and effect, then maybe.

If nothing is determined by cause and effect, then probably?

Are some things outside of the laws of causation? I don't really know.