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Just wondering? Do you think religious people are brainwashed by churches, bibles and priests?

By leleboston Asked Oct 30 2009 10:03AM
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Top Answer out of 15

by giotorrent on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:12 am Permalink

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I STRONGLY AGREE... and Scientists and Physicists state that religions limit the human mind.
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Avatar tastiger Oct, 30 2009 at 10:13 AM
But it does keep some people sane.
Avatar giotorrent Oct, 30 2009 at 10:24 AM
Yes, It does keep the herd in order... ;]

Answer 2 out of 15

by evandad on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:32 am Permalink

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I do, but the practice has gone on for eons. I believe our parents were sincere when they passed it on to us.
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Avatar Willow Medicine Thang read it and weep Oct, 30 2009 at 10:34 AM
How's lil' Evan doing? Hope he's okay.
Avatar evandad Oct, 30 2009 at 04:02 PM
He's ok. He went back to school today.
Avatar Willow Medicine Thang read it and weep Oct, 30 2009 at 04:11 PM
May I be as resilient in my life.

Answer 3 out of 15

by Timjon on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:08 am Permalink

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Could it be the same way that atheists or skeptics are brainwashed by colleges, books and liberal professors?
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Avatar The Jester Oct, 30 2009 at 10:41 AM
I'd also like to point out that from my own experience, most professors of the sciences as well as humanities are not afraid to discuss the claims of religion and Intelligent Design. In fact, most encourage it, and present the arguments and claims of both sides, ultimately allowing students to make the decisions for themselves. In fact, the only times I've ever heard a professor cut off a discussion involving God was when the participants were starting to belittle each other (on both sides).
Avatar Timjon Oct, 30 2009 at 08:25 PM
Let me just say from my own experience, guys, that if anyone had a reason to hate the church, it was I. I'm not going to go into details because it would serve no good purpose. Secondly, when I asked Christ to forgive me and save me, it was at the time I was going to kill myself, I was not even going to church and never even read the Bible because I couldn't even understand it. In fact, I was quite angry with my minister, and did not have any positive relationships with any before that.
Bottom line-------your theory of me being "brainwashed," had absolutely nothing to do with my conversion into the Christian faith and my personal relationship with God thru Jesus Christ. Thanks for your comments, nevertheless.
Avatar HasntBeen Oct, 30 2009 at 08:52 PM
I don't believe I said you were brainwashed, so that qualifies as a "strawman" fallacy -- trying to attribute a position to your opponent which they aren't actually holding, because it's easy to refute.
 
Your answer came out aggressive -- asserting a broad, unsupported generalization about others. Clearly, it's a reaction to the broad, unsupported generalization in the question -- no doubt about that. But two wrongs don't make a right. If you want to challenge the silliness in the question, you need to pick it apart and show where it's mistaken. Simply making up a contradictory myth accomplishes nothing, and dumbs the conversation down.
 
You have a legitimate chance to stand up for your faith in a way that has integrity and is also sound from an argument standpoint. I'm just suggesting you use that opportunity.

Answer 4 out of 15

by qwerty on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:30 am Permalink

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'religious ppl' is a VERY broad generalization
If you really want serious answers you may want to be more specific
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Answer 5 out of 15

by HasntBeen on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:45 am Permalink

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I think "brainwashed" is too strong a term, it implies people being locked in a room and subjected to a constant barrage of messages designed to override competing thoughts... i.e. to condition the mind through repetition or stress, etc.

What religion typically does, in my opinion, is to "slip in a mickey", or rather a whole raft of mickeys. So the way that works is that religion takes some truth, and some practices which work, and mixes them with some half-truths, non-truths, and meaningless fluff, and then asks the congregant to accept the whole package as a unit -- suspending the detailed critical analysis of each component.

The techniques used to elicit this wholesale swallowing are pretty effective: peer pressure and belonging, fear (of hellfire, being branded a "sinner" or outsider, etc.), reward (heaven, being considered a saint), appeals to authority, appeals to tradition, and a whole raft of persuasive but dubious arguments and prose.

To understand religion, I think one must understand this bit about it being a mix of truth and falsehood... so intricately intertwined that the latter gets easily mistaken for the former while the delivery mechanism disables the believer's incentive to question the details. It's a mistake to say "religion is all bunk", and it's a mistake to say "my religion is the whole truth and nothing but". In between those two, clarity can be found with persistence.
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Answer 6 out of 15

by tempus on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:33 am Permalink

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A small percentage of people are....if people don't use their brain to think, they can be brainwashed by others...even by atheists. +5
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Answer 7 out of 15

by HoboJoe on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:24 am Permalink

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I can't say it is brainwashing. But it usually starts with the parents. As a kid you end up following your parents religious beliefs. It is not like you have a choice anyways.
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Answer 8 out of 15

by sweetielowe on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:40 am Permalink

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Yes because of the age of 'conversion'.
The only people i don't think are brainwashed are those that choose the faith of their accord when they are adult enough to choose their own path in life.
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Answer 9 out of 15

by Willow Medicine Thang read it and weep on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:31 am Permalink

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People who are brainwashed are that type of person. If the churches don't get them something else that allows them not to think for themselves will take it's place.
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Answer 10 out of 15

by Mosexy on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:21 am Permalink

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Many are, for sure. But there are bigger Zombie makers out there. The typical American is far more brainwashed by the media. In fact, most Americans spend considerably more time in front of a television than they do in a church or reading the Bible.
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