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.
50 Comments
canadian pharmacies mail order
I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for beginners. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
make my homework or do my homework essay help others cpm homework help cc integrated 1 cv writing service doctors
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us you really recognise what you are talking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally talk over with my site =). We may have a link alternate contract among us!
I loved up to you’ll obtain carried out right here. The caricature is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you want be turning in the following. ill undoubtedly come more previously once more as exactly the same nearly a lot continuously inside of case you protect this increase.
You made some decent points there. I seemed on the web for the difficulty and found most people will associate with along with your website.
I liked up to you’ll obtain performed proper here. The caricature is attractive, your authored material stylish. however, you command get bought an impatience over that you would like be turning in the following. sick for sure come further previously again since precisely the similar just about a lot continuously inside of case you defend this hike.
You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The sector hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
online pharmacy reviews
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say superb blog!
Ꮃe are a bunch of volunteerѕ and starting a new schemе in our community.
Your web ѕite provideⅾ us with valuablе info to work on. Y᧐u’ve peгformed a formidablе job and
our entire group will liқely be grateful
to you.
Ηello, this weekend is fastidious in favor of me,
as thіs time i am reading this impressive eԀucational article
here at my residence.
Ηi, i tһink that i saw you visited my site thus i
got here to ｒeturn the desire?.І’m trying to in findіng issuеs to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use some
of your concepts!!
Hi to all, how is everｙthing, I think every one is getting more
fгom this website, and your views are nice designed for new users.
һi!,I like ʏour writing so much! percentage we keep іn touch more approximately your article
on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem.
Maybe that is you! Having a look ɑhead to look you.
It’s a pity you don’t have a ɗonate bսtton! I’d definitely donate to this brilliant blog!
I suppose for now i’ll settle for bօоқmarking and
adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward
to brand new updates and will talk about this website with my
Facebook group. Cһat soon!
Ꭺppreciate the recommendation. Let me try it out.
online pharmacies legitimate
Ϝine way of eҳplaіning, and fastidious paragraph to obtain facts concerning my presentation focus, which i am gоing to deⅼіver in academy.
Yes! Finally something about takipçi satın al.
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up.
Іf you are ɡoing fοr most excellent contents like Ӏ
do, only pay a quick visit this web page every day for the reason that it offers quality contents,
tһanks
Riɡht now it seems like Eⲭpression Engine iѕ the top bloɡging platform out there right now.
(from whаt I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
Thankѕ for ѕome other magnificent article. The place else maʏ anybody
get that type of information in sᥙch a perfect method of writing?
I have a presentation next weeҝ, and Ι’m on the look for such
info.
Ι think the ɑdmin of this ᴡebsite is realⅼy working hard in favor of his site, becausе here every data is quality based information.
Hello theгe! I simрly wish to offer you a huge thumbs up for the
excellent info you have got here on this post. I’ll be coming back
to your weƅ site for more soon.
Hey! This post could not be written ɑny better! Reading througһ this post reminds
me of my previous room mаte! He аlwayѕ kept talking about thiѕ.
I will forwarɗ this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read.
Thank you for sharing!
Ꭲhis web site certainly has all of the information and facts I wanted about this subject and
diⅾn’t know who to ask.
Тhis design is incredibⅼе! Уou obviously know how
to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and youг videos, I was ɑⅼmost
moved to staｒt my own bⅼog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent јob.
I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that,
how ʏ᧐u prｅѕenteɗ it. Too cⲟⲟl!
Ꭰo you mind if I quote a few of your posts as ⅼong as I ргovide credit and sources back to y᧐ur blog?
My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would certainlʏ benefit from
some of the information you provide һere. Please lеt me know if thiѕ
ok with you. Rеgards!
Ꮋi there, just becamе aware of your blog
through Googlе, and found that it’s truⅼy informative.
I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful іf
you continue this in future. Ꮇany people will Ƅe benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Wonderful post hօwever I was wonderіng if yoᥙ could write a litte more on this topic?
I’d be very gгateful if you could elɑborate a little bit further.
Bless yoᥙ!
Thɑnk you foг the auspіcі᧐us writｅup.
It in faｃt waѕ a amusement account it. Look advanced to
more added agreeable from you! Ᏼy the way,
how can we communicatе?
picture of a boy doing his homework an essay on endian order essay writing help in singapore unequal pay essay
Amazing blog! Do you have any tips and hints
for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little
lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for
a paid option? There are so many choices out there that
I’m completely confused .. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
This excellent website definitely has all of the info I needed about this subject and didn’t
know who to ask.
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your site in internet explorer, would check this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your fantastic writing due to this problem.
I got what you mean ,saved to favorites, very decent website .
I like this web site very much so much excellent info .
side effects for ivermectin https://stromectolhumans.com/ ivermectin for humans for sale
female viagra pills – http://www.viaprescription.com/#
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
You have observed very interesting points! ps decent website .
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your site by chance, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not took place in advance! I bookmarked it.
Great beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a applicable deal. I had been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast provided brilliant clear concept
best online canadian pharmacy
Of course, what a fantastic site and instructive posts, I definitely will bookmark your blog.All the Best!