Why do most people never overcome the religious brainwashing they were given as a child?

Question

The Moslems, Christians and Jews are all fighting over beliefs they first heard when they were 3 years old. There are 10,000 religions in the world. Each "knows" the truth, and will kill for it.

On C-Span, a Professor of Religious Studies from Princeton mentioned that there are about 10,000 religions.

Answer 1

It's a way for the ruling elite or other charlatans to control people. If you reinforce their childhood superstitions into their adulthood you can make them into you own private warrior fanatic army. (See Hezbollah, the Israeli Defense Force, etc.)

Answer 2

I have a couple of religious friends, I am not religious at all. But they have two things that I wish I could just sign up for: peace of mind (they go to heaven, they know what their life -fulfillment is, they know the reason and purpose of living) and they can't loose; if there's a god, they go to heaven, if there's none, they'll never know anyway. A person like me has no hope for anything; I die and become food for worms. My life will be over and forgotten like it never was and nobody ever cared. But I do and there isn't a single thing I can do about it.
Almost all religious individuals are against violent (religious) acts, that's why we call them extremists or fundamentalists if they will turn to violence. Religious texts are very ambigious, they talk as much about love as they do about violence and retalliation. That's why these religious extremes can exist, they give an aggressive interpretation to religious manifests. For which they are most likely not intended.
I think if you are brought up with a fear for a divine being that's able to exclude you from living eternally (in paradise for christians, so you will), you will not be so likely to say; well, I don't see any proof (hence why it's called a BELIEF), I'll stop believing and take my chances on burning in hellfire. And you cannot always cut yourself loose from the expectations and pressure of family and peers. A belief is always deeply culturally imbedded, be it on a large (society) or smaller (family/ community) scale, and you may risk social exclusion by giving up your (or, so you will, their) faith. From a sociological standpoint, a religion is a societal glue, it binds a people, gives them a commonality. From a psychological standpoint, it gives a point of reference in the complex and almost unbelievable lives we have. We have a very highly evolved consciousness, a human-being actually can think beyond it's needs and predispositions and will do so. An additional need is actually created by this. It creates the need for answers to life's purposes; philosophy is just as old as religion, it just offers no relief. If you cannot find any answers why you were given this consciousness and ability for self-reflection, etc., this can really bother you. A religion is a culturally and socially exepted form of relief from life's anxieties. But I would like to know what it is that they found and I myself cannot find; it IS as if they have seen the light and you are still in the dark. And I also will never know what the truth really is. But overall, religious people should be better people because they have this faith, which actually tells them to be a good person or burn in hell; however, some people always know a way to pervert a good thing.

Answer 3

I don't know where you are getting that "most people never overcome" because for every person that believe in God on here, there is a person who doesn't. I also don't like that you call it brainwashing. Some religions try to "brainwash" but I am Christian and was raised in a Christian home, but I was never forced to go to church after the age of 5. I was never forced into believing in God. I was impressionable but I am an adult now and I still have faith. Brainwashed? I think not.

Answer 4

“According to David Barrett et al, editors of the "World Christian Encyclopedia: A comparative survey of churches and religions - AD 30 to 2200," there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups”



I will assume, from the manner in which you phrase your question, that you liken religious belief to believing in Santa Clause. Religious faith and God (generically speaking) is just as real to believers as is the nose on your face. This belief does not fade with age; it typically grows stronger for most. It is only considered “brainwashing” by those who choose to live their life believing in no higher power or creator. The very small minority of people this covers would, I assume, want other people to respect the conclusion they reached relating to religion. It always strikes me as a fearful moment of doubt in the choice of an Atheist when they feel perfectly righteous in demeaning those who choose to believe.

To the second part of your assertion, Muslims, Christians and Jews do not typically “fight(ing) over beliefs they first heard when they were 3 years old”. The Jews fight for a piece of land to live on—not because they proselytize they are the best religion. Muslims do not fight in the name of Islam---save those who have perverted the religion to serve their own selfish agenda and cloak themselves in the robe of Islam to rationalize their actions---trust me, it has ZERO to do with the teachings of Mohammed. Christians, to the best of my recollection, have not been involved in a war as a “group” since the middle ages and you can chalk that brief horrible history up to the same perverse motivations today’s Islamic fascists use mentioned above.

The direct answer to your question is that you have begun with a false pretense and asked for it to be proven----that is an impossibility and an oxymoron.

Answer 5

Looks like you have been watching too much CNN.

The Muslims kill the Jews and the Christians because that's what their 'holy book" the Koran tells them to do.

The Jews and the Christians fight the Muslims because the Muslims attacked them.

Its just that simple.

The Jews or the Christians have never attacked Muslims, never, ever, without being attacked by the Muslims first. Check the history books.

Answer 6

Most people never over come it because they don't try to see beyond whats in there own mind. It's real difficult to reprogram whats in your own head. The best advise I can give is to get into the bible it's self. That's were the real truth lies.

But let me tell you something. You must believe the word of GOD to be the truth other wise your just waisting your time.

There are two things you have to realize, number one. there's religion and number two there is being a christian or christ like. You have to throw out the riglion part and just worry about being a christian if that's how you believe. anyway that's my 2 cents worth. GOD BLESS!

Answer 7

A question more people should ponder pondering is not safe! If it works for them but society lies in schreds then what? FEAR is that not a huge factor They are dominated by fear fear of god fear of hell fear of abandonment (their family their congregation their support system their friends ) IGNORANCE inability to see over their own garden wall apathy numbness complacency controll & the " powerers" of the religion reinforcing all this...I was raised in parochial school14 years then I broke away when I woke up one day and thought Why do I confess my sins to a man who buggers innocent little boys? WOOOOOA This was the start of A wonderful adventure that wil last 'till I float about SUMMERLAND! and beyond...god is love acceptance and reverance for the self ! as god as goddess and respect...but many shall not ever see this or any related thoughts i watch and wonder...and you?

Answer 8

Because 'most people' never learn how to think properly, and never develop a love of learning.

On average, I read 2 or 3 books per week. I have repeatedly been amazed to encounter people with college degrees who claim to have not read a book since they graduated, years before... and that they have never read a book because they wanted to... only because somebody made them do it, as part of school work.

Even Christians that DO read, for the most part select their material from 'approved' lists... books that are designed to keep intact the veil of delusion that envelopes their minds. Also, there are the infamous 'Liars For Jesus' (LFJ) web sites, such as answersingenesis.com... when fundies want to comment on 'evolution', for example, or explore the origins of the universe, they don't go to a university web site, or a science web site.. no... they go to sources that are designed to keep them ignorant, misinformed and deluded.

It is very distressing.

Answer 9

I can answer that with a question - WHY DO ATHEISTS, never overcome their anti-religious brainwashing (whether from childhood or obtained later in life) ?

FYI (for your educational value) - Not every Christian becomes one because he or she was born into it.

FYI - There have been many atheists who came to see the light, where evolution and anti-god rhetoric failed. We are talking HIGHLY EDUCATED men and women with above average IQs.

You might not like that, but the facts remain. You are brain washed by Satan and his hidden goons.

Answer 10

Your grand over simplifications come under your term of "brainwashing" as if the parent have no rights to raise their children with any religious training. I can only agree with you on one point of context. And that is a religion that advocates revolution or harm to others ought to be outlawed

Answer 11

Children keep everything they experience in their subconscious after they reach adulthood. So many are sadly programmed that they will be tortured eternally if they dare think different than their childhood religious programming. When you question those beliefs, that old fear riles up inside them, like a PTSD flashback effect, shutting off their left-brain lobe logic side. It's cruel to do that crap to a child.