Why do Christians become Christians?

[Mister Agenda]

We're not wired to believe. We're wired to seek security in belonging to a group, which is hardly surprising, given that we're a social species.

I'm probably talking to a brick wall here, but it would do some of you some good to look up newer research on other socials species.

The only part of your rather lenghty post I'm willing to accept, is the security part and the one about not being comfortable with not having all the answers. Classic god of the gaps. Classic cavemen, looking up at the sun and the moon, not being able to explain their nature and calling them gods. Yes, people want security, they want to feel cherrished and they want to be taken by the hand. But that's about all.

So, you are saying that you know why people become Christians and its not for the reasons they think. Do you really think that is a defensible position?

No one says 'I'm a Muslim because it's the dominant religion in my region'. Do you really think that it's not a major reason despite the fact that it's the most reliable indicator of a person's religion? Senegal has freedom of religion but it's 90% Muslim, if I guess a person from Senegal is Muslim, I'll be right 90% of the time. But they will say the same things about why they chose Islam that Christians do about why they chose Christianity, and really believe that it's a considered decision on their part. But it's highly likely that the reasons given in both cases are post hoc rationalizations for adopting the religion they've had the most exposure to.

That doesn't mean there aren't Christians and Muslim who DID arrive at their religion after careful consideration and a reasonably thorough investigation of the alternatives, but they're clearly not the norm.