How can you unbrainwash someone?

Question

I usually don't go to church. My opinion has always been that you should never try to answer questions that have no answers b/c all tht will do is cloud ur mind . My friend and I recently attended a church. It was very strange. They would hit people in the head and say 'slain in the spirit',' speak in tongues, seem to have conflicting radical beliefs, and target teens. We had a good laugh about it after we left but my friend started going back again and again. I am kind of worried b/c the church seems to be brainwashing him for the worse. Strange things keep coming out of his mouth and he keeps trying to 'save' me. Should I just leave him alone, stop being his friend or try to bring him back to rational thinking?

Answer 1

check out www. trance.edu and www.tranceresearch.org
It is a public non-profit educational foundation.

I am Christian and I don't consider this Christian but rather a cheap "new age" Pentecostalism. I worry that hitting people in the third eye (between the eyes) can cause nerve damage. This "slain in the spirit" stuff is called "signs and wonders". I think it's one of the most frightening things around and it's spreading like crazy all over the world. I have trouble getting mainstream Christians to take the dangers seriously even though it's also creeping into mainstream denominations.

While the director of the above site is not Christian, his theories are really useful for understanding this stuff.

He's a really nice sincere guy. I'm sure he could e-mail you some suggestions or you can read the web site or get his book.

In a nutshell, certain types of repetitive music and repetitive words can lead to a sort of hypnotic state which he calls trance which can also make you more suggestible. Apparently, just being made aware of this helps to break out of the trance state. But, you may need advice on how to help your friend break his trance. That's where the web site, book, or e-mailing the director of this Institute come in.

Yes, your friend needs you but be careful!

I am curious what Church this is if you could add it as a note.

P.S. Read THIRD WAVE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE PENTECOSTALIZATION OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY: A WESLEYAN CRITIQUE by Laurence W. Wood available on-line at http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyan_theology/theojrnl/31-35/31-1-06.htm

It is by a professor of Systematic Theology and explains how "signs and wonders " such as "slaying in the spirit" is not Christian and the real meaning of Pentecost. He calls them pagan. I would say they are below pagan.

This is a Christian critique which will allow your friend to be a real Christian if he wants.

Answer 2

There are methods to "de-program" someone who has been truly brainwashed. Your friend does not fall under this category.

What you describe as people being "hit" in the head probably was not. More so a mere touch. Nor was it meant as an act of violence.

What you witnessed were physical phenomena that occur when an invisible spirit force interacts with human beings gathered to worship Him - The Holy Spirit.

Your friend cannot "save" you. Only your choice to trust Jesus as personal cleaner-upper and path to everlasting life would do that.

Maybe you should go back to church with him. Or find another more low-key church that would better suit your personality. There are many questions. They DO have answers.

Answer 3

Show him in the Bible where these things are not of God. 1 Cor 12,13,14 and 15 are great places to show him from. Also point out that NO ONE in the Bible was ever "slain in the spirit" except for the 2 who lied to the Holy Spirit and were killed. Emotionalism is easy to get caught up in, people like to feel good. But not everything that feels good is from God.

Answer 4

ask him if the Bible depics Jesus or any of his followers hitting people in the head or shouting or dancing around like a specticle(1 Timothy 4:1) 4 However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons,

Answer 5

I think you should ask him to go to a different church with you. People shouldn't hit others on the head.

Answer 6

Get him to read a book entitled "The Book your Church doesn't want you to Read." A solid knowledge of where Christianity is derived from is the only way to temper the fundamentalism.

Answer 7

What you mean by "un-brainwashing" someone means to get him/her to change back to his old self. That process is training. You will have to train your friend to be himself again. It will take work. It will try your friendship. It may not work, and the next best thing may be to lose a friend instead of losing yourself too. Good luck.

Answer 8

Hon, he isn't brainwashed. He has found God. You'd be that way if you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior too. Trust in him and believe he died on the cross for our sins and you are saved. If you never had that kind of connection I don't expect you to understand. Anyone can have a relationship with him. The only one that keeps you from knowing God is yourself. He is always waiting....

Answer 9

"hit people on the head", I know this a great exageration. Give examples of "conflicting radical beliefs".

"Brainwashing"? Maybe it needed a good clean!

Remember God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die in your place. This is radical, especially considering that you can get eternal life as a free gift.

"Rational" thinking? The whole gospel message is rational.

Answer 10

no offense but your Church is ****** retarded. U don't bichslap people in Church. Thats just wrong.

2nd soc your Friend in the nose as hard as you can and he will slap out of it.
3rd
if that dosent work you tell him to close his/her eyes. Then beat the **** out of him. Tell the police that someone muged him.

PS: and one more thing if he still dosent do it...then tell him if he stops his **** you'll make out with him. (but u really will have to)