Atheists notwithstanding, most of us innately feel a spirit-base in our lives, and the presence of this spirit either commands or doesn’t command our attention and is either tended to or neglected. Regardless, that presence rarely departs for good, and at the very least nudges us along however indiscreetly. While some choose to tend to this spirit presence in a more or less unique manner, the vast majority of us choose a major religion, which provides a well worn path for living a spiritual life, much like farming wisdom provides a well worn path for growing food—some people choose to grow hydroponically, but most follow the traditional recipe of sun, soil and water.
Most people, I would suspect stay in the religion that they are born into. Some may become disillusioned with or conflicted with the dogma of one and choose another. Others who are brought into the fold from the outside, probably do so out of the feeling of solace they get from finally discovering a framework to tend to their abandoned or neglected spirit. Christianity, in particular, is big on evangelization, so this is a pretty reliable and visible channel for getting converts through the door.
My personal experience was growing up a fairly well indoctrinated and true believing (and rule following) Catholic. In college, I experienced two things that caused me to leave: 1) a crushing existential crisis, and 2) conflict with the church’s dogma that I could not resolve. So, I left. Ever since, I have sorely missed the social ritual aspect of going to church, and even now I feel good walking into churches, but I still can’t do the dogma of a Catholic church, and I know too much now about world religions to really submit to a Christian faith.
Despite all that, I’m glad I haven’t “thrown the bathwater out with the baby.” I think it’s shortsighted to not believe in/feel a spirit presence or life force or what have you, and at this point I’d like to find some kind of practice (that isn’t fear-based) to tend to it.