Reply #121: Probably somewhat yes, somewhat no [View All]

[gollygee]

It is partially a choice I think, but it isn't a complete choice because if you're raised from day one by people with those beliefs, and have that impressed upon you over and over, and are sent to classes (such as Sunday School) to reinforce it, for years on end, there's enough work from the outside and from a young enough age to make it not completely a choice. But certainly people stop believing in the religions of their families, so obviously a choice exists. The question is more about how free that choice is, or whether it's sometimes very difficult to see something other than what you were raised with, or something like that.

So I guess I think it's more complicated than a simple "yes/no" thing.

Edited to add that I see you said "always". I think for some people it probably isn't a choice. When they become adults, it's such a part of their self-identity that they aren't really able to move away from that. And then of course a lot of people are very happy and wouldn't want to move away from the religious teachings of their youth anyway, but that's more of a choice I suppose. Faith is a choice and is an important part of religion, too.