Why I am also still frum

I am still frum because my family raised me this way. I am comfortable with the accouterments of frumkeit, and I would be uncomfortable without them, even if I suddenly disbelieved in frum doctrine. But it’s unlikely that I would ever disbelieve frum doctrine, because it has been ingrained in me since birth and because 90% of the people with whom I meaningfully associate have those same opinions – in fact, if any of them had a different opinion, they would pretty much have to find other people with whom to associate. Relatedly, I would not be able to find different people with whom to associate – I only speak the language of frum people.

Additionally, even if I would suddenly disbelieve frum doctrine, I would continue to be frum because my frumkeit means a lot to the people around me. I owe an infinite debt to my parents and if I weren’t frum I would cause them tremendous pain. I was married relatively young, and already have several children ka’h. I would not jeopardize my relationship with my wife and children by becoming un-frum.

The above reasons create a sort of circular mechanism – because it would be so terribly inconvenient to be frum if I didn’t believe in frum doctrine, and it would be so inconvenient to be not frum, I end up believing it.

That’s why I’m still frum.