Do you believe … something?

That is a huge question in my life, and for most people that I know. “Belief” might be religion, but it can also be politics, or some kind of activism, or possibly some sports team. It is human nature to sincerely believe in something. With my friends, that one strong belief will crowd out all the other possibilities.

We seem to have a limited capacity to really believe something, with strong convictions. 

As a Christian, I find it is useful to remember what I really believe, and maybe separate that from what everyone believes, around me.

Conforming is not the same as believing.

Personally. I have lost contact with many of my friends who went to the same church as me with their parents and other relatives. I am old enough to remember when we did not have email or cell phones, and it was easy to lose contact when someone moved away.

When I do connect with an old contact, it is surprising how many of my old acquaintances and even close friends, have changed to believe something different from what they were raised to believe.

Now, the older generation is mostly gone, and we are left on our own. Both of my parents, and most of their old friends, have died, and I am now responsible for me, with no support (or opposition) from them.

We are living in interesting times. Change is becoming more common than stability.

If you are interested in reading some research findings, here is a link to a research article, about Americans who are changing their religion:

https://religionnews.com/2025/12/15/why-do-people-keep-their-religion-why-they-leave-a-new-pew-report-has-some-clues/

Here is my summary: If you only conform, to keep other people happy, you might change. But, if you have somehow developed strong personal convictions, there is a high probability that you will remain in your beliefs. Pretending to believe something because of the culture around you, is very different from finding your own, strong and personal, convictions.

You probably know the term “evangelical” which is commonly applied to Christian groups. Their basic religious concept is change. Are you old enough to remember preachers like Billy Graham? It was common for evangelist preachers to speak to huge audiences, sometimes in large stadiums, and then to have an “altar call.” People would be invited to come to the front, if they wanted to pray with someone and accept Jesus. 

That was a change in religion for most of those people.

Watching in person, or on television, it looked like hundreds or even thousands would respond, and walk to the front. Each one was changing, and it would be interesting to know where they all are now. Possibly they grew into strong personal convictions, and stayed in their new spiritual home.

In the Bible, we have a story about Jesus, who told people to change and start following him. One quote is “He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people!” (Matthew 4: 19) That is change as a basic religious belief and practice.

Evangelical Christians are usually interested in religious change, and some follow the trends closely. You might be interested in a brief video that tracks religious change in our modern times:

On the other side, there are millions, and probably billions of people who conform to their ancestral religion, and live in a culture with a common religion. In many places, persuading people to change, or making a decision to personally change, could result in criminal charges. In some places, those criminal charges could include a death penalty and could result in an execution.

This is like a cultural civil war, in our modern world. There is a long history of religious arguments and conversions, sometimes forced on conquered people. There is also a long history of religious persecution, when people changed, or resisted a change. The governing authorities told people how to conform, and they were punished, if they didn’t.

Now, in our modern times, everything has changed. People cannot be isolated and forced to conform. 

I guess you are reading this on a cell phone, a small tool that you can carry in a pocket, or possibly you are using a small lap-top computer. The Internet has changed the way we live, and computers and phones are adapting to the new model. This has given us a new common culture, and religion has to adapt. 

We are moving into a time, worldwide, with more personal convictions, and less conformity to the community around us. That is what the researchers are noticing and studying.

So, in our modern times, what are your strong personal convictions? Are you ready for the future?

Two thousand years ago, someone predicted our future and made it normal:

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:26 )

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (Mark 10: 21)

This is personal change and belief versus cultural conformity. Expect to see much more of that, including the Jesus option: