Welcome to the nuthouse known as RF, Alien from Queens. Are you a legal alien or no? Extraterrestrial or terrestrial? :flirt:
I am curious to know though, to some of the people who are zealous or even moderate with their religious views, what would you do if you were born into another religion?
If I am understanding this the way you have intended it it is unlikely that one could give an accurate answer as their life would have been completely different. I am from a long line of staunch atheists, so it is unlikely that my attitudes would have been similar had I been raised in a religiously observant family. In my household, "Oh god" was synonymous with "good grief" and "go to hell" wasn't meant literally - well, most of the time. It's not like we believed in Hell. Also, "Jesus Christ" was considered a form of objection or indignation rather than an object of devotion.
Would you still have the same beleifs?
That is impossible to say, in my opinion. If you change small elements during the formative years the results could be considerable. It's not like life is predetermined and that my path is etched in stone regardless of the rock I come across on my way. My path creates itself, so I may not have come to that juncture had I been saddled with unnecessary religious trappings.
Would this nullify the God you have now since you would be brought up to know of another God? By God, I'm referring to the highest being specific to that religion.
I have largely moved beyond "god" concepts and usually only refer to "god" when talking to others. In my day to day world, "God" is irrelevant. I do sense "something" "out there" but am not so arrogant that I claim to know exactly what it is. I think those who claim to know of a "god" are simply demonstrating a form of arrogance. The simple fact is that they cannot prove their assertions and subjective perceptions are valid so there is little point in making the bold assertion. Well, you asked.
After all, we only beleive ideas that were drilled into our heads when we were young.
That is simply NOT true for all people, I can assure you. You are ignoring experience and the learning process itself, though I will concede that many do simply validate their suspicions given the most tenuous "evidence". What can I say? Some have their bar of proof rigged with training wheels.
Some of us have learned to form our own...others haven't.
To an extent, I do agree, but I can't help but think of sweet little kids that believe in Santa Claus. Would you deliberately dash their childish hopes and dreams with a cold splash of reality or would you rather them just stumble through, as best as they can, and figure it all out for themselves at their own leisure.