The Difference Between Life-Long Believers and New Believers

[Yosef]

There are life-long believers, the believers that have grown up with God in their lives since the beginning. Then there are new believers who hadn't grown up with God, who later "dicovered" him, and/or became a believer in some form or another.

 

In your opinion, would you would find that the level of the Christian belief would be stronger in life-long believers or new believers?

 

Personally, I think that New Believers have a stronger faith because they've found a hope, a light in the darkness so-to-speak. They've been impacted harder than the life-long believers, who've only known to believe in God with no reason other than what's said in the bible or by the parents.

 

An example, my "Life-Long Believer" friends don't seem to rely as much on God as I do, being a "New Believer". When I give advice to my "Life-Long Believer" friends, and quote something from the bible (not EXACTLY, but close enough) it's like something that's never crossed their mind. They also can't comprehend the need to be patient with evangelism. When they want their friend to come to church or something, they're too hard on them, driving them further FROM church, the opposite of the original intended outcome. They can't comprehend the need to give people their personal space and need of respect while trying to convert them.

[DutchGuy]

I agree, I think new believers have stronger faith in general.

They experienced the real world and found out it wasn't their thing.

It was a conscious choice to embrace religion, as opposed to people that grew up with it.

[Trialbyfire]

Isn't belief the key word? If you believe strongly enough, I don't think it matters when you start to believe.

[disgracian]

New converts are always more zealous, mainly because it's all new and exciting to them. It wears off eventually.

 

Cheers,

D.

[DutchGuy]

Isn't belief the key word? If you believe strongly enough, I don't think it matters when you start to believe.

 

But is it fair to say that people that grew up in a religious home 'started' to believe at some point?

The idea that you start believing implies that you first didn't, but people that were brought up religiously never had the chance to be atheist.

It's like saying: "when did you start being left-handed?".

[Moose]

but people that were brought up religiously never had the chance to be atheist.

I think it would be interesting to see how many of these people, "brought up religiously" are actually believers in Christ.....I think that would shock us all.....

They also can't comprehend the need to be patient with evangelism.

I think that part of the reason for this is because it's a "job" to them rather than a passion to see those coming to Christ.

 

We shouldn't push people to love God. He doesn't want oppressed followers.....who would?

 

Maybe you should involve yourself with another group of, "new" believers and grow in Christ with them.....

[Trialbyfire]

But is it fair to say that people that grew up in a religious home 'started' to believe at some point?

The idea that you start believing implies that you first didn't, but people that were brought up religiously never had the chance to be atheist.

It's like saying: "when did you start being left-handed?".

When you grow up with organized religion, it becomes part of how you view the world, very much a foundational bias. You never "start" to believe, as in a conscious choice, you just "do" believe, similar to breathing.

[DutchGuy]

When you grow up with organized religion, it becomes part of how you view the world, very much a foundational bias. You never "start" to believe, as in a conscious choice, you just "do" believe, similar to breathing.

 

And that I find child abuse.

[Moose]

And that I find child abuse.

That would be too general wouldn't it?

 

I mean, does everyone on the planet have to have a life similar to yours in order for it to be, "correct" and not considered abusive?

[JamesM]

And that I find child abuse.

 

And if we said that the children were brought up with no religion and had never been told about the Bible and God...would that also be a form of child abuse since no choice was given?

 

Using your logic, we must call that child abuse, too.

[quankanne]

New converts are always more zealous, mainly because it's all new and exciting to them … Maybe you should involve yourself with another group of, "new" believers and grow in Christ with them

 

you guys have hit on something I've always found fascinating: It's the converts that give a whole new look on a subject that, while we know by heart, we sometimes are immune to.

 

I used to take part in RCIA program at our church, where converts studied about the Catholic faith during a year-long process and discerned if they really wanted to become Catholic. And it was amazing to see how on fire many of these folks were. Most were from different (usually Protestant) backgrounds and they brought a wealth of riches to the weekly gatherings, and they often got actively involved in parish life after becoming Catholic.

 

that's not to say that the cradle Catholics were slackers, just showed that sometimes an outside or new view/approach to a common faith often rekindled their faith to a degree they'd not considered before. And it was pretty cool.

 

*how* long a person's belief has lasted isn't as important as what his faith is doing for him or her; and we have to realize that a person's faith journey is going to have many, many twists and roadbumps and potholes along the way, so we can't just measure by length of time. We've got to look at the quality.

 

good topic, BTW

[DutchGuy]

And if we said that the children were brought up with no religion and had never been told about the Bible and God...would that also be a form of child abuse since no choice was given?

 

Using your logic, we must call that child abuse, too.

 

No.

Because god is something you have to start believing in on your own, not because your parents tell you to.

God will reveal himself sooner or later right? It has to come from within yourself. And if the kid dies uninformed, he won't go to hell, because you can't be punished if you never heard of god (I'm not sure if they still go to the limbo because the pope recently called it out-of-date).

 

I'll compare it with political preference.

Would you call todlers republicans or democrats?

Only because YOU believe that is the way to go?

Why not let them figure it out on their own?

 

And because, and this is ofcourse a personal opinion, god is totally bogus.

Raising your kids to believe in Zeus is abusive too, and I'm sure you can all comprehend that. Abuse in a way, that you don't offer your kids all that life has to offer. You narrow their horizon and you feed them LIES.

Lies that ultimately only lead to a false believe of supriority, which has led to wars thousands of times.

[FleshNBones]

When you grow up with organized religion, it becomes part of how you view the world, very much a foundational bias. You never "start" to believe, as in a conscious choice, you just "do" believe, similar to breathing.

That hasn't been my experience.

 

Most of them only come to Mass monthly or on holidays if at all.

Most of the disaffected atheists come from this group.

[Trialbyfire]

That hasn't been my experience.

 

Most of them only come to Mass monthly or on holidays if at all.

Most of the disaffected atheists come from this group.

It's reliant on how you were raised. As an aside, I was raised with consistent religion. I'm currently what I call, one of the "unfaithful". Neither atheist, theist or agnostic.

[FleshNBones]

The people with greater faith tend to be people in need. Maybe they are really struggling. Maybe they are lonely. Maybe they want a greater purpose. Maybe they need God.

 

It is sad how so many people only turn to God when they are in need.

The rich must really struggle with this.

[Yosef]

The people with greater faith tend to be people in need. Maybe they are really struggling. Maybe they are lonely. Maybe they want a greater purpose. Maybe they need God.

 

It is sad how so many people only turn to God when they are in need.

The rich must really struggle with this.

 

I agree on how depressing it is when people will only turn to God when in need, because they don't "have a reason to." I guess its better that than never.