Posted on by mcclearn

An Accident of Birth

An Accident of Birth

Duane McClearn

June, 2020

The overwhelming majority of Saudi Arabians are Muslims. The overwhelming majority of Saudi Arabians a generation ago were Muslims, as was the generation before that and before that. The majority of the people of India are Hindus. Their parents and grandparents were most likely Hindus. Most Brazilians are Christians (Catholics, in particular). Their parents were most likely Christians, and their parents’ parents were Christians, as well. Similarly, in the U.S. most religious people are Christians, but whatever faith Americans hold, it is likely that of their parents. Among American Christians, people tend to stick to their parents’ denomination. Catholics tend to stay Catholic generation after generation. Mormons tend to marry and raise Mormons.

It’s not as if people are generally questioning their own religion, working through it, comparing it to other religions, then concluding that their own is obviously the true one (or True One). Very few religious people, it would seem, pause for reflection about religions other than their own. It may be that few pause to reflect, or have knowledge, even on their own. In the U.S., for example, biblical illiteracy is remarkably high, especially considering how many politicians and other public figures declare that this is a Christian nation. In his book, Religious Literacy, author Stephen Prothero refers to  a study that found, among other things, that only half of American adults could not name even one of the four Gospels of the New Testament and most couldn’t name the first book of the Bible. And it isn’t as if atheists are dragging the averages down. In fact, atheists tend to score as well as, if not higher, than most Christian denominations on measures of Bible knowledge.

Several years ago I was teaching a college course about global issues. One day I asked students to take out a sheet of paper and explain: Why  aren’t you a Hindu? I already knew that none of them was a Hindu, and that all were raised either Christian or Jewish in the U.S. They asked for guidance. What, exactly, were the beliefs of Hinduism? What were the practices of Hindus? It didn’t really matter for the purposes of their assignment, I responded. You know that it is the majority religion of India, and you have the sense that it is different from Christianity and Judaism in its beliefs and practices. So write away. They struggled a bit more. They tried to get me to divulge more about Hinduism. I wouldn’t.

Perhaps I was being too obtuse. What I was trying to get at was that it didn’t really matter what religion I asked them to write about; it could have been Zoroastrianism or Jainism or Kemetism (the religion of the ancient Egyptians).  It didn’t matter if they knew what the beliefs were or had examined them carefully, and weighed their merits. The reason that they weren’t Hindus was almost certainly that they weren’t raised as Hindus, and the reason that they weren’t raised as Hindus was most likely because they didn’t have Hindu parents and were not born in India. So to the Christians in my class, I asked: how many of you have seriously studied other religions before settling on Christianity. The answer: none. The reason that they were Christians is that that is how they were brought up–their parents were Christians, their neighborhoods were Christian, their towns (to a greater or lesser extent) were Christian, their churches were Christian (obviously), and so on.

So I asked the obvious question. If you had been raised in Saudi Arabia by Muslim parents, do you think that you would now be a Muslim? The answer: Well, yes, almost certainly. And if you had been raised in a Hindu village in India by Hindu parents, would you now be a Hindu? Yes, of course, they replied.

I would venture to guess that most people of faith don’t come to embrace a religion based on considering the various religions on offer around the globe. Rather, they accept without question what they are told by parents and the others around them starting at a young age. This means that for the majority of the world’s religious people, their faith is really just based on an accident of birth, much as if you are likely to be a Denver Broncos fan if you are born and raised in Colorado and a Seattle Seahawks fan if you are born and raised in Washington state (that is, if you care about football).

If there is a single True Faith, and billions of people seem to believe that there is, and if you are rewarded by a celestial being or beings for adhering to it and punished for not adhering to it, then I have to conclude that it is one of the big lucky life lottery draws for the people who happen to be born in the right place to the right parents.

1,558 Replies to “An Accident of Birth”

  4. Thanks a bunch for sharing tһis with all pеople you really understand what you’re speaking about!
    Boⲟkmarked. Ⲕindly aⅼso seek advice fгom my site =).
    We could have a hypｅrlink exchange contract between us

  5. Asking գuestions are truly good thing if you are not understanding ɑnything
    totally, except this piece of writing presents nice understanding
    eᴠen.

  6. After lօoking at a few of the articles on your wеb site, I honestly like your ԝay of blogging.
    I book marked it to my bօokmark webpаgе list and
    ԝill be checking bacқ in the near future. Taкe a look at my ԝeb site too
    and let me know your opinion.

  10. We’re a gaggⅼe of νoⅼunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community.
    Youг site provided us with useful information to work on. You have perfoｒmed a formidable job
    and ouг entігe neighboгhood ѡilⅼ likely be grateful to you.

  13. Nice pоst. I was checking constantly this weblog and I’m inspired!
    Extremely useful information specifically the ultimate part
    🙂 I handle such informatіon a lot. I used to be seeking this
    certain information for a very long timе. Thank y᧐u and good luck.

  22. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.

  23. I was recommended this web site by means of my cousin. I’m now not positive whether this post is written by means of him as no one else realize such distinct approximately my trouble. You are incredible! Thank you!

  24. Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.

  25. Thank you so much for giving everyone an extremely wonderful opportunity to read articles and blog posts from here. It really is very kind and as well , packed with fun for me personally and my office acquaintances to visit your website more than three times in 7 days to read through the newest tips you have. Of course, we are usually amazed with all the cool creative ideas you give. Selected 4 ideas in this posting are indeed the most efficient I have ever had.

  27. My husband and i got so joyous Emmanuel managed to finish up his investigation while using the ideas he obtained in your web pages. It is now and again perplexing to simply possibly be handing out ideas that many others may have been making money from. Therefore we do understand we now have the blog owner to appreciate because of that. The specific explanations you have made, the simple website menu, the relationships you will aid to foster – it is many great, and it’s making our son in addition to the family understand that issue is exciting, which is incredibly serious. Many thanks for all the pieces!

  28. Needed to write you a bit of note to say thank you once again over the breathtaking ideas you’ve discussed at this time. It was really wonderfully generous with you giving easily exactly what most of us would’ve sold as an e-book to help with making some dough for themselves, most notably now that you might well have done it if you desired. These principles additionally worked as the fantastic way to know that other individuals have the same keenness like my own to realize much more concerning this problem. Certainly there are thousands of more pleasant instances ahead for many who look over your site.

  31. What і don’t reaⅼize is actually how you’rе not reaⅼly muｃh
    more well-prеferred than you might be right now. You’re very intelligеnt.
    You recognize thus considerably in relation to this topic, produced
    me in my view consider it from numerоus numerous angles.
    Its like men and women aren’t involved until it’s one
    thing to do with Girl gaga! Ⲩour individual stuffs great.
    At aⅼl times maintain it up!

  32. Spot on with this ᴡrite-up, I really feel this website neeԀs
    a lot more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read
    through more, thanks for the info!

  36. Gooɗ post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a
    daily basis. It will always be helpful to read through cоntent from other authors and praсtіce
    something frоm their sites.

  37. I dοn’t еven underѕtand how I ended up right herｅ, but I thought this submit was good.
    I do not recogniѕe who you might be hοwever certainly you’re going to a fɑmous blogger if you happеn to are
    not already. Cheers!

  42. Ηey there woսld you mind letting me know whіch hostіng company you’re
    working wіtһ? I’ve loaded youг blog in 3 dіfferent browѕｅrs and I mᥙѕt saу this blog loads a lot faster then most.
    Can yoս recommend a good internet hoѕting provider аt a fair priｃe?
    Cheers, I appreciatе it!

  43. Ꮇy bгother suggestеd Ι might liкe this website.
    He was entіrely right. This post trսly made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this info!

    Thanks!

  47. An fascinating dialogue is value comment. I feel that you must write more on this matter, it might not be a taboo topic however typically persons are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  48. Very well written story. It will be useful to anyone who employess it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts.

  50. Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything. Nevertheless just imagine if you added some great graphics or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and videos, this site could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche. Fantastic blog!

Comments are closed.