How can freewill exist when we are all brainwashed to think a certain way?

Question

We are either brainwashed by societal norms or self-esteem.

Breaking away from societal norms depends on your self-esteem.

Brainwashing has infinite variety. It's all unique for the individual, but you are still being influenced by others and by your self-esteem (both of which we have no control over).

If no one makes you think anything, why is it that if you are raised without human contact (except for feeding), you permenantly retain the mind of a baby for the rest of your life? People shape who we are no matter how unique we become.

Answer 1

I've never trusted humans ever since I was a child so I have always thought for myself. Humans just need to realize they have a brain that is there to determine good from bad and stop following everyone elses ideas.

Free thinking is a great feeling to have, I wouldn't ever let anyone change my way of thinking. Open the mind and see all.

I've never liked following others because I have no idea where they are leading me, better to be out front and decide your own path.

Answer 2

This has got to be one of the best questions I've ever seen on here...no joke.

I wonder how much you realize the truth to what you said.
We are brainwashed to follow sports like a religion, we are brainwashed from lies in the textbooks, to seek after riches, to lust without inhibition, to follow after things that don't matter...etc.

If you want to know who is orchestrating all of this, read a book called "The Shadows of Power". It will blow your mind.

Here is the key to becoming un brainwashed... Once you accept Christ, you are given a free mind that is not bound by the trappings of this world. You are able to think clearly. Now, it is not an overnight conversion. The more you build a true relationship with God, the more you are released from the grasp of the world's influence.

The bible says that natural man (meaning not saved) cannot be free from the world's traps. Meaning that your free will is limited as you pointed out. Romans chapter 7 & 8 spells all of this out clearly.
But, you do have a free will to accept Christ or not. Now, if you've been brainwashed to believe that is not real, you are in trouble.
What I've found is that people are willingly brainwashed most of the time. They choose the lazy route and believe what makes them feel the most comfortable. They could free themselves from many things if they took the time to think instead of watching TV.

I applaud you for such a great question. You are on the road to truth. If you need help with understanding Romans, contact me and we'll go over it together. Those are 2 of the most difficult chapters in the bible to understand.

God bless you in your search for answers.

Answer 3

Brainwashing only occurs when the person ALLOWS it. I think what youre reaching for is "Can freewill exist when we define ourselves through other things in this life."

Yes. Although I may define my existance through God and an atheist would define his existance through nature, science, and self-gratification, neither of us are brainwashed by anything.

Brainwashing is something completely different where you have a set of ideas, and conditioned responses. The participants are urged not to ever question the training but to simply follow that training and orders such as what the military does. Even if you have a brainwashed person, they are still voluntarily submitting themselves to the higher authority and voluntarily not questioning the structure based on their freewill.

Humans by nature have freewill and self-determination. There is no getting around it.

Answer 4

Though it's difficult, we can choose not to be brainwashed. It's true that we are all brainwashed by the media to think only certain things are beautiful, and brainwashed by our parents to raise our children in the same manner they raised us. But a huge part of free will is realizing that you HAVE free will. Many people don't realize just how free they really are and they have the power to break away from the chains of society.

Sooner or later, some of us will realize that society has been enslaving us, and we will point in society's face and say, "I am a slave to you no more!"

Blessed be.

Answer 5

Noone makes you think anything. Even what you were taught as a child, you can accept or reject once you hit adulthood.
Freewill is simply being allowed to make your own free choices as to what you think and do and believe. Some have great rewards, and some cause a great deal of misery . A child that hates his dad for being abusive can forgive or hate him all his life. Forgiveness brings peace, and lack of forgiveness brings misery to him all his life, even after the dad is gone. same with choosing God or the devil, and yes for God you must choose. One brings a great life and eventually heaven. Choosing the devil brings misery and eventual hell. YOu do hav freewill to think as you please. God forces noone , nor are we. But, think out all of your choices well, cause we want to reap the rewards, and not suffer the consequences of making wrong choices all the time.
If you have been brainwashed, get over it. You are now free to think as you please. Dont blame those that you feel brainwashed you. You arent forced to believe any of it NOW. If someone caused you to lose self esteen, and yes I have been thre. think on this one. DO you still have to believe it now? I was led to believe I had no value on this planet. I stopped believing that, and I realize he was a sick person, and that I am a wonderful person, a strong Christian lady. I let noone define me or my value, but GOD. Its your choice to believe what you want, and to change it if it isnt working for you, or for GOd either, and those around you. Set your own boundaries. Follow GODS RULES AND LET NOONE CHANGE THT IN YOU. You are not some weak person that must think or do what others say. Do what you know is right, whether it gets popularity points or not. SOme refuse God because their friends will laugh. But on judgement day none will be laughing. so do what you must for You and GOd. I pray t for you.

Answer 6

if freewill dosnt egsist whats brought all the trolls?
have they also been brain washed to get people to think an uncertain sway
we are being brain washed right now by an unsociable norm of low self esteem
of course freewill egsists arnt you reading thier posts
proof positive ,even if for now they seem a bit negative it still is a positive sign that answers your question unquestionably with real proof,see the signs freewill lives.
dont be brain washed into disbelieving we dont have a free choice.

Answer 7

Freewill is given by God; not by mankind. Just because you hear all kinds of garbage in this world, does not mean that you have to believe it. A person can believe whatever you desire to believe, but my suggestion is that every person believe the Word of God; not the garbage and hogwash which they hear every day of their life in this world. A person can only be brainwashed if they choose to believe the lies that they are told. I personally assure you, the Word of God is no lie; but the truth, and the only real truth. And self-esteem is something that a person earns by the life which they choose to live. I suggest that every person live their life the way that the Word of God commands them to live. Then they can have real self-esteem.

Answer 8

All kinds of facts are all around you. Don't you pick the ones you want to believe? Even if someone has told you something all of your life, you can find information FOR or AGAINST IT on the subject. If you choose not to, then that's free will. You are a free moral agent, you make choices. Nobody makes you.

Answer 9

How can you say we are brain washed? look at R & S questions and answers. There are many different beliefs from many different places. I alone have looked into dozens of beliefs and faiths before comming to a knowledge of the truth. Far from brain washing.
May GOD richly bless you

Answer 10

You r not brain washed...accept that you've agreed to be brainwashed (agreed to belive in what you heard) therefore your being brainwashed is a result of your free will!