Are bible thumpers brainwashed?

Question

Many groups use unethical persuasion tactics in recruiting and retaining members. These methods can range from love bombing to scare tactics (imposing high exit costs, e.g. convincing a person that leaving the group means losing one's salvation).

http://altreligion.about.com/cs/cults/bl_cultawareness.htm

http://www.4degreez.com/free_thought/brainwash.html

Answer 1

They are carriers of a religious mind-virus, they constantly reinforce the mind virus by mixing with others who keep the virus going and pass the infection on to others.

Answer 2

"Brainwashed" is an often used and grossly misunderstood term.

I think what you're referring to are psychological tactics that prey on fear (both known and unknown), a need to belong, a desire for acceptance and love, etc. Indoctrination into a belief system (and by extension a sub-culture) is probably a better way to describe it. Although we take it pretty much for granted, cultural norms and mores are an extremely powerful influence on our behavior and thinking. We are social animals and are successful due mostly to the fact that there are "invisible forces" holding us together into a cohesive, functioning society where the vast majority of people knowingly or unknowingly assume roles and responsibilites and even adopt behaviors, language, dress, etc to correspond to their "place" in society. This doesn't mean that things can't or won't change, or that we can't or shouldn't make value judgements about the culture or sub-culture in question, but we have to recognize it first and look at it from that context to make a valid assessment. You're on to something already by recognizing what needs the sub-culture serves for its members.

Answer 3

Some are. The groups that go to those extremes are not truly following the bible. They pick and choose what they want to follow and teach which leads to such extreme behaviors. Not all Church's are like that. If you do go to a church and things seem kind of strange don't go anymore. God is a God of love and not weird and strange practices. I have never been to a church were any of those methods were used. In fact when I've decided to leave a church I have never been threatend or told that I will loss my salvation. If I would have been I would have ran as fast as I could away from that church.

Answer 4

If you open any text book on psychology, and turn to "brainwashing" you'll learn of the classic generic method. (no room to go into detail here) Compare this to an unbiased look at religion, and you'll see they're IDENTICAL!!!! I'm talking about formal "church" aspects of religion. Also, take the "primitive and the missionary" story.
The missionary says, "Now that you've heard God's word, you're open to salvation." to which the primitive asks, "What if I'd never seen you? Would I still have gone to hell?" The missionary says, "No, if you'd not heard God's word, you'd never have had the chance to be 'Saved'. HE would'nt condemn you for that." To this, the primitive says, "WHY THE F--CK did you tell me then!?!?"
This is the perfect example of how bible thumpers are in reality working against their god. According to their own views, they're putting us at risk. Doing so only to round up followers to validate their own warped outlook.

Answer 5

No, people of the world are deceived, spiritually blind and spiritually dead. If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall in the ditch. The spiritually dead have no understanding or wisdom of spiritual matters yet criticize those who do.

Forget religion.

Christ is the path of salvation.
Christ is the truth of God's Word.
Christ is the life eternal.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Christ is the tree of life.

Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Answer 6

No, I do not believe they are at all.

See, if you actually think about it or if you have paid attention to science you would realize some people believe in a therory. Yes, God is a therory even in science. Much like Gravity is a therory and evolution is a therory.

Let me ask you a question now. How much do you believe in gravity? Most people will say very much so. This is the same with peoples belief in God. It is not just a therory to them they know it.

Answer 7

The U.S. Army recruits people the same way lol.

So does every large organization. Including Walmart. Microsoft. McDonald's.

So do some Atheistic organizations.

And religious organizations.

So I ask you, why pick on just the "bible-thumpers"?

Answer 8

Any group that does the things you described is nothing more than a cult. A church from one of the major denominations would never support coercion, bribery etc to retain members. That would constitute trying to interfere with one's free will; Jesus would never do that.

Answer 9

I wouldn't say they're ALL brainwashed. Some incorporate religion into their daily lives and it's healthy - it's the crazies that we hear about. They are the people that may not have much to live for so they throw themselves into their religion or "religion" as the case may be and end up losing more of themselves.

Answer 10

No, they are not. And that is simply because most people do not know what the term "brainwash" means. I checked out the first URL you gave and it seems to suggest that "brainwash" cannot account for the drastic changes.

Answer 11

why does everyone on this site call names. the people that reads the Bible and beleive are not "bible thumpers". i personally have never "thumped" my Bible. we are not brainwashed, but could it be possible that those that don't read it, is brainwashed by beleiveing whatever they beleive. stop with the criticizing of christians, for one thing our Bible tells us is not to judge or comdemn. but it also let us know that we will be. Jesus said in the book of Luke, that" blessed are those that are persecuted for my name's sake". so, we already know that there would be those that would come against us, simply because of what we beleive. may God let His everlasting Grace fall upon you. and one day open your heart to the truth as only He can. one cannot lose their salvation, but things that are not of God may influence them to beleive this untruth, that is why we who are practicing the Word of God must elevate one another to continue in Faith and know that God said "fear not", for i shall never leave you nor forsake you.