somewhere else?I have seen incredible things done by people who believe they can do something that seems impossible.I have seen people who can change their mood and their emotion at will.I have seen people who have been brainwashed to believe something that isn't true such as how Jim Jones brainwashed people to kill themselves.I have seen all this and it tells me that feeling love for something doesn't make it real.It just means that "faith" can be simply a form of self brainwashing to gain an emotional response from within.Can't you concede to that at least a little?
Source on Jim Jones:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones
2006-07-23 22:32:15 · 6 answers · asked by EasterBunny 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So far my first two answers did not understand that I was saying that faith might be a form of brainwashing.Believing in something so much so that you can feel a certain way is brainwashing.
2006-07-23 22:40:46 · update #1
I exist, come let me love you, you will have no doubts,my pet.
2006-07-24 17:53:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My struggle with Christianity has been a very long one, and sometimes this is a question I ask myself.
I don't think faith is something that brainwashes you. I believe *brainwashing* can lead to faith, but not the other way round. However, I believe that once you are brainwashed into having a strong faith for something (you might want to look up into the cult Aum also, it's quite fascinating, the level of devotion those intelligent, very educated people had. Nothing against the less educated, but the more educated - those people had Ph.D's and the such in disciplines like Applied Physics - are supposed to be less susceptible to brain-washing), you are more susceptible to any propaganda you might receive.
Although I am Christian, speaking from an objective view, maybe you are right that this "feeling" might all be psychosomatic, and there is no God. But our religion is based on faith, and we choose to believe this "feeling" is real and different from other worldly feelings because of faith. Everything is a choice (Christians will say this is free will), and we choose to believe in the Bible. And through this faith, we experience peace ("I will give you peace and quietness." 1 Chronicles 16:11). And if this is true, and from this peace, we feel that we experience God, then why would we let anything bother our faith?
And, speaking from an objective view again, it's not like Christianity asks us to kill the non-Christians and commit adultery or whatever. It speaks of love and tolerance, which should hold true no matter what religion you are in.
Maybe you think that we can practice these values without being Christian, but - and I am speaking from a standpoint that you don't believe in Christianity and that Jesus is the answer - having a belief, a faith, helps you nurture spiritually much better (c'mon, everyone has a spiritual side, just how they wish to direct it). Anyway studies show that people with religion cope with stress/illness much better, and even live longer. So maybe that is something to think about.
P.S. I think your question applies across the board, and not just to Christianity.
2006-07-24 05:56:38 · answer #2 · answered by marchcalf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are on to something there, and I agree with you in part. The part I do not agree with you on is that you seem to be leaving out the possibility of faith that is real and feelings that may be derived from that that are genuine also. The Scriptures teach us that no man comes to God without faith and that we walk by faith, not sight (or other senses). So what needs to be done is to ascertain that Jesus is real and go from there... true faith will build upon that single initial truth; Seek Him
2006-07-24 06:28:56 · answer #3 · answered by skypiercer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ummm, let me think.
Am I brainwashed? No, I have serached and been educated on the Bible and faith, and religion, so no.
Is love the feeling? No, its not love.
Can I change my emotion and mood at will? Yea, Im a girl we have that talent? But does that change the feeling? No.
Its not a feeling like a mood, or emotion, it is Perfect Peace. It is beyond describable.
So, No, I cant concede it, but thanks for the effort!!!
2006-07-24 05:38:01 · answer #4 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in my point of view each every things in over life which will happend with us.depended on our destiny so if faith god it will change your bad destiny into good one.so belive god if you belive in your self
2006-07-24 05:41:40 · answer #5 · answered by virakti t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wouldn't say its real if it feels like a brainwashing
2006-07-24 05:39:03 · answer #6 · answered by nightlee11 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋