Religion as an adult choice

[Holden Caulfield]

I come from a very strict long lineage of french roman catholics (up here in Manitoba being french matters, it's basically a recipe for being staunch religious). However despite my extended family being extremely religious my immediate family (mom and dad with us kids) never attended church or anything religious beyond family events. Both my brother and I became hard atheists. Yet most of my family is strict catholic.

As someone who came up in that atmosphere my philosophy has always been that people deserve their own right to choose what they believe in. However I have NEVER known a SINGLE person that has chosen religion from being agnostic or atheist as an adult that can actually make their own decisions. The only religious people I know were indoctrinated since they were under 2 years old to believe in god. And I've known countless people that have turned away from religion in their teens and as a adult.

So the question I pose is whether is if everyone was raised in a secular environment would religion even exist? I fully believe in people's right to choose, if they want to believe in a god they have that right. IF they choose that as a full developed person. NOT having it shoved down their throats as children.