Reply #36: Oddly worded question but I'll give you four types of born agains [View All]

[toddaa]

At first glance, it sounds like you are suggesting that people become miserable AFTER becoming born again, but that's not really what you are talking about.

Having been one of those "born again" types, I think there are some different types of born again Christians. There were the kinds like myself who were raised in a fundamentalist environment that became that way, usually in the adolescent years, due to upbringing and peer pressure. I was also aware of some of my friends being basically born again since as long as they can remember. Depends on how fervent your parents were. The kind you are talking about are the radical conversions and I believe they are a minority. Finally, the adult born agains are those that were raised in a typical Christian family, sowed some wild oats, then finally had to settle down and decide they were going to take their religion seriously.

What makes a person decide to be born again? Guilt. Guilt over being a loser, not living up to others expectations, or not achieving some goal that you set for yourself. Whatever kind of guilt it is, though, it feeds right into the Christian concept of sin and that's where the evangelicals will snag you. It certainly doesn't have to be anything as dramatic as drug addiction or criminal behavior, but everyone has moments of self doubt and that's the impetus for deciding to become born again. It's actually a pretty effective marketing gimmick.