James Shaw

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/16/world/islam-fastest-growing-religion-trnd/index.html

"That means that Islam -- currently the world's second-largest religion -- will surpass Christianity as the world's biggest religion by the end of the century, the study projects."

"Why? Muslim women have more children, on average -- 3.1 children compared to 2.3 for all other religious groups combined, Pew says. Also, those of the Muslim faith tend to be, on average, seven years younger than non-Muslims."
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This really bolsters the idea that one's religion, for the most part, is the religion of their parents, not the one of their choosing, and that means that we are brainwashed, for the most part, into a religion. So, it may not be surprising that the largest religion belongs to the largest group that does the best brainwashing?

“Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.” Aristotle was a very smart man.

Will any Hogg challenge the idea that the religion of most religious individuals is the religion of their families? Did
God set it up this way or is this just a human trait, in other words, to accept the beliefs of ones parents?

green Loc: 22.1749611,-159.646704,20

honor your mother and father... you shall have no other gods before me... seems like it.

James Shaw

you are a thinker - good/pertinent response!

green Loc: 22.1749611,-159.646704,20

in early societies, things were more homogenous... everyone had the same religion... you had to focus the tribe's energy on which evil spirits to ward off.

James Shaw

Yes, be it the thunder, lightening, or other scary not understood force of nature. Another good one, thinker green!!

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

To turn it around, is an atheist born of atheist parents, born into their faith?

James Shaw

Good question. Atheism, likely arises through thinking at a later time in life, not early indoctrination. So, most atheists are likely those who are adults, who have done their own thinking, as adults.

Given, if a child is indoctrinated with atheism and survives until an adult, it would not be unlikely for that person to want what they have never had, the love that religion provides, so they may come out and seek religion.

A child will choose whatever makes him/her feel secure when they are uncertain due to inexperience. To tell a child that there is nothing out there for them and they are on their own, is scary. So, a child is much more likely to choose the philosophy that says there is something out there that will protect them, always, and that will love them like their mother, and that will lead them to an always-after, an always-after that will embraced him/her (the child), forever, in loving arms when they die.

Again, "Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.” (Aristotle). Islam and Christianity, as well as other beliefs/religions, are more likely to succeed if the indoctrination is started at an early age, generally speaking, in my opinion. There are exceptions, of course, but I am referring to man, in general, not in particular. So, this works best in children, as most children are too inexperienced to do their own philosophical thinking as they have not had the experience that growing up to adulthood gives them.

Thank you for challenging my thinking.

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

Not necessarily James, I was brought up in a Christian home. My Aunt who I spent a lot of time with, taught Sunday school and I could pass with high marks any school exam on R.I without having to study for it, and was a church goer. But, at around 11-12 yrs old walked away from the Church, and returned 44 yrs later. I know you say there are exceptions, but I think it's more common than you think it is.

James Shaw

Well, perhaps you are right, in suggesting that your experience is more common than I think, but walking away from the church is different from being an atheist, don't you think?

Did you ever really believe that God did not exist, during that period away from church, or did you just take a break from all of the religious stuff for many years? Anyway, sometimes we need to take a break to do our own thinking, in order to put it all back together, later. Perhaps that's what happened in your situation. Maybe you were agnostic during that period. Anyway, if you are happy with your belief, that is all that matters, don't you think?

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Wow! Just goes to show how much I know..... Here I thought that the world's fastest growing religion was the religion of "Climate Change".

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

Interesting, looking back on that intervening period perhaps I was agnostic! Though my memory was of not thinking about God/Religion at all, though I knew in 1968 that this world is not the naturalistic world viewed by many.

James Shaw

"Religion of Climate Change." Funny. However, religion/faith is belief in the absence of evidence. Yet, vast quantities of empirical evidence support climate change (global warming). lol.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

"Yet, vast quantities of empirical evidence support climate change (global warming). lol."

Much of which has been manipulated. But I digress, your op was a discussion about religion and I interjected politics, my apology.


http://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/former-noaa-scientist-confirms-colleagues-manipulated-climate-records

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

James, Christianity has always been based on evidence, not blind faith. The evidence is there, in fact the bible teaches us to be sceptics. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 but examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good. NASB. See, I even like the American version!

James Shaw

No apology needed. Also, in addition to that which has been "manipulated," very much of the empirical evidence supporting climate change/global warming has not been manipulated, and new evidence continues to be contributed by dedicated and honest science/scientists. This issue will take time to sort out the details.