Humans have an attribute that animals do not: free will. In our lives we are often presented with many opportunities to make our own choices, but what exactly fuels and supports our decision making? Sometimes we act impulsively for no reason, but in most cases we are often influenced by various external factors, such as past experiences, religious beliefs, or peer pressure, in making our choices. Emil Sinclair, the narrator of Herman Hesse's coming-of-age novel Demian, is an example of an individual who incorporates different aspects and beliefs of religion, particularly Christianity, into his life. Raised in a Christian family, Emil has always considered religion an important role; not only does religion influence his actions, but it also influences his thought process – his moral views on what is right and wrong. When Sinclair encounters unorthodox perspectives, such as Max Demian's conflicting interpretation of the story of Cain and Abel, he is forced to question some of his beliefs. Furthermore, when Emil begins to develop desires that conflict with his Christian observance, he is forced to decide whether or not to remain true to his beliefs. Although Christianity is a significant factor influencing Emil Sinclair's thought process and actions, ultimately it is the contrasting and distinct points of view that help Sinclair determine his actions; therefore, he does not completely abandon his Christianity, but chooses elements of various beliefs and philosophies that make sense to his nature, his desires, and his experience of the world around him. Christianity has a huge influence during Emil's youth, providing him with an understanding of the world in terms of good and evil, right and wrong. Living with his parents and......middle of paper......my religion which I wish to follow; therefore, I am not entirely devoted to the religion, but I incorporate some ideas from it. In our current society, we are constantly making decisions and formulating new ideas. Many individuals grow up with a different set of beliefs and values, which allow them to be more flexible in their thinking process. If our world were run solely by Christianity, we would not develop the unique perspectives that stimulate invention and individualism – we would be a pietistic dystopia! Our world today is diverse and thriving in opinion and reasoning, a world in which we can find and fully express ourselves and, therefore, we must not be reduced to incorporating just one concept each time we use the power of free will. Works Cited Hesse, Hermann. Demian (Perennial Classics). New York: Harper Perennial ModernClassics, 1999. Print