While I do agree with you to a point, Denotsed, I disagree also. Experiences are a mix of chosen and unchosen things that happen to you, because of you or around you. People can share the same experience and react completely different.

You talk about if a dog bites you when you're young, then you'll fear dogs, unless you have positive experiences to override that programming. Not necessarily; some people do get harmed by animals or people but don't develop a phobia.

And growing up in a Catholic family most certainly does not mean you will be Catholic, too. (And it's "You're going to believe..." not "your.") I know of many people who grew up with one set of beliefs and followed a different set. I've known atheists who said they never bought into their parents' beliefs. I was raised somewhat Christian (not attending church regularly, but we considered ourselves Christians), but I'm agnostic, and have been since my early 20's. Now that has to do with experiences.

I know some people will disagree with me, but the way I see it, you don't choose your beliefs. Something convinces you that something is at least a possibility if not a fact. People who believe in God have experiences they think prove God, or they want to believe in Heaven and a loving God so much, that they accept evidence that may or may not be strong. We want to believe, so we believe. Madalyn Murray O'Hare was a famous atheist, but her son, William grew up to be extremely Christian.