Why do Christians become Christians?

[dyresand]

Why christians are christians... fucking child hood indoctrination and the fear of death and hell
enough said. Also the carrot on the end of the stick heaven... there most of the reasons listed
also tradition....

[maestroanth]

It is obvious that we are somehow wired to believe in God/higher power/supernatural/purpose/destiny etc. Of course you will say this is a product of our evolution. There are several theories centered around the adaptive values of religion (social solidarity for one). However, these theories presuppose naturalism. So the result of this reasoning is that if God did exist or did not exist, we would still be wired to believe God exists. 

I remember a few scientists (both atheists and theists) making statements that we are programmed by nature/evolution to believe in a God.  I've always been skeptical of this conjecture; until there was this one lecturer with a convincing point:

Imagine two of your great great great etc. ancestors exploring around and they hear a rustling of leaves in a bush somewhere.  One ancestor sprints away because he automatically assumes it's a panther.  However, the other thought maybe it was just the wind so he goes and checks it out.  Which ancestor will survive?  

Well, you may have already come to the conclusion that the latter ancestor could actually be correct that it really was the wind (say he has an 95% chance that this is the case), and nothing happens.  However, the other 5% of the time, it could be a dangerous animal and he does get eaten. Even though it is a low probability, it only takes one misfortune in this scenario to lose everything and cut off your evolutionary branch. So this means that the ancestor that always runs because he/she always believes it's a panther will survive, and that's the ancestor we continue to evolve from.

Now, instead of assuming that a Panther is what made the leaves rustle, simply replace the "Panther" with "God" as what made the leaves rustle.

That's why we have people today still exhibiting this superstitious behavior now called "religion"......

[Silver]

One becomes a Christian because one has parents who teach Christian beliefs in order to ensure Christianity prevails; indoctrination at its best. Your OP was a bunch of hooey.

[Ivan Denisovich]

Indoctrination is the answer.

[robvalue]

Even those that aren't indoctrinated often live in societies saturated with Christian mythology. Even in England, where Christianity is dying a slow death, there's fucking churches everywhere. Jesus this, Jesus that. There's always Christians around saying stuff about Jesus and Christianity. It's on TV, it's on the radio.

So if someone does end up mentally caving, it's not surprising that they generally happen to adopt the religion they've been exposed to all that time. In later life, it seems to mostly happen when someone has a very difficult experience and maybe this erodes their mental defences. They feel vulnerable and lost, and (maybe with the "help" of some devouts) they find some comfort and hope in religion. Some theists are like vultures and will exploit people's weaknesses, we see it all the time on this forum.

It's just a religion, though. Religious people seem to forget that there are loads of them, and that's only counting the ones around at the moment.

You think anyone would ever "find Jesus" if they didn't have people going on about him all the time? If they never even heard of him? Fucking no chance. Zero. They'd just turn to some other religion, if that's what they needed. Jesus and Yahweh, like all gods, exist only as long as people keep spreading myths about them.

Social pressure can be a bitch in highly religious areas, too. Some people may play along just for a quiet life.

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

I'm with abaris. Christianity gives people a sense of belonging to a particular social group. After all, we are social animals aren't we.

[SteveII]

I believe, especially for an adult not raised in a Christian home, it is the appeal of Jesus as a person coupled with his teachings that draws people. Why do these things resonate with a large number of people? 

The bulk of conversions occur between the ages of 4 and 14.  For those who don't get it young from family, it isn't a "large number" of people that convert.  Perhaps in Africa the situation is different, but there I suspect the church's draw as a social and community center is the drawing factor, not Jesus.

I've seen numbers in the US indicate that ~85% become Christians between 4 and 14. If we use that number for the rest of the world, that would mean approximately 325,500,000 (out of 2.17 billion) became Christians later than 15 years old. 

Regarding the draw in Africa, Jesus taught to feed the hungry, cloth the poor, etc. Matthew 25:34-40

Some experts say that China will contain the largest number of Christians by 2025. How do you account for that if not the appeal of the message?

[dyresand]

I'm with abaris. Christianity gives people a sense of belonging to a particular social group. After all, we are social animals aren't we.

I'm a strong independent atheist in a bible belt state i need no particular social group that has cult beliefs and behaviors

[dyresand]

The bulk of conversions occur between the ages of 4 and 14.  For those who don't get it young from family, it isn't a "large number" of people that convert.  Perhaps in Africa the situation is different, but there I suspect the church's draw as a social and community center is the drawing factor, not Jesus.

I've seen numbers in the US indicate that ~85% become Christians between 4 and 14. If we use that number for the rest of the world, that would mean approximately 325,500,000 (out of 2.17 billion) became Christians later than 15 years old. 

Regarding the draw in Africa, Jesus taught to feed the hungry, cloth the poor, etc. Matthew 25:34-40

Some experts say that China will contain the largest number of Christians by 2025. How do you account for that if not the appeal of the message?

Like a bad case of herpes...abrahamic religions just refuse to fucking die off and yet that said religion is going to fuck up yet another wonderful culture 
and their own beliefs... yet again... this is truly sad.... At least japan has a strong hatred of christianity islam and judaisms and catholism they really hate
god of the bible in general.

[Time Traveler]

I think another reason this resonates with people is Jesus' main message that forgiveness, personal peace, a relationship with God, and eteral life is possible. 
a. there are a lot of people, who have had tough experiences that find the forgiveness and internal peace very appealing.
b. when you meet someone who has been a Christian a long time and exemplifies Jesus' teachings and shares how God has been a constant comfort and support to them in their daily lives, that is very appealing as well.
c. eternal life, how can you beat that? This component also helps you make sense/cope of the shortness of life, tragedies, and pain endured while we are here. 

Another appealing quality of Christianity is having the question of purpose and place in the universe answered. 
a. with atheism, at best, you are a happy accident with no overall purpose that will very shortly die and cease to exist.
b. contrast that with the purpose of man is to "Glorify God and enjoy him forever". We were created for a reason and daily life has purpose and you really want others to know what you have found. 

Your argument here is one of "appeal." And I actually agree with you. Religions, like politicians, have often had to compete with one another by making the most appealing promises - regardless of whether or not those claims are true or can ever come to fruition. "Eternal life, how can you beat that?" is a direct example of something that appeals to pretty much everyone... but that doesn't make it remotely true! I think the primary difference between theists and atheists is that atheists are willing to take the world as it is, on its own terms, whereas theists find the need to psychologically wrap themselves in a protective blanket of happy fantasies. So you're right, Steve - your religion makes many "appealing" and extraordinary promises whereas atheism does not always paint the picture many might desire; but that should be all the more reason why you should scrutinize the validity of seductive theistic claims. If, that is, the truth of reality is more important to you than appealing fantasy.