Humans have an attribute that animals do not have: free will. In our lives, we frequently have many opportunities to make our own choices, but what exactly fuels and supports our decision-making? Sometimes we act impulsively for no reason, but most of the time we are often influenced by various external factors, such as past experiences, religious beliefs, or peer pressure, to make our choices. Emil Sinclair, the narrator of Herman Hesse's bildungsroman Demian, is an example of an individual who integrates different aspects and beliefs of religion, particularly Christianity, into his life. Raised in a Christian family, Emil always saw religion as an important role; not only does religion influence one's actions, but it also affects one's thought process – one's moral opinions about what is right or wrong. As Sinclair encounters unorthodox perspectives, for example Max Demian's contrasting interpretation of the story of Cain and Abel, he is forced to question some of his beliefs. Additionally, when Emil begins to develop desires that conflict with his Christian observance, he is forced to decide whether or not he should remain true to his beliefs. Although Christianity is a significant factor that influences Emil Sinclair's thought process and actions, it is ultimately the contrasting and distinct viewpoints 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 in relation to his own nature, desires, and experience of the world around him. Christianity has a huge influence throughout Emil's young ages, providing him with an understanding of the world in terms of right and wrong, 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 religion, but I do incorporate some ideas from it. In our society today, we are constantly making decisions and formulating new ideas. Many people are raised with a different set of beliefs and values, which allows them to be more flexible in their thought process. If our world were governed solely by Christianity, we would not develop the unique perspectives that spark invention and individualism – we would be a pietistic dystopia! Our world today is diverse and flourishing in terms of opinions and reasoning, a world where we can fully find and express ourselves, and therefore we will not reduce ourselves to incorporating only one concept each time that we use the power of free will. Hermann. Demian (Perennial Classics). New York: Harper Perennial ModernClassics, 1999. Print