When people say they found new life when they accepted Jesus, really saying 'I became brainwashed'?

Question

I don't really see the difference, no offense, but it just seems that suddenly accepting 'one way' doctrines or else is on the same level of close-minded brainwashing. Could you somehow persuade me this is not the case without giving me copy/pasted bible quotations that I've already read and within this point explained to be part of the brainwashing?

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

When they say they have found a new life by accepting Jesus Christ...they really have. I don't believe that following Jesus is being brainwashed. He said himself that He is the way, the truth and the light. That means that he wants you to follow Him. And by follow I mean be accountable for everything that you do. You do actually feel a lot different after giving your life over to the Lord. Some people would look at this way of life and say that you are brainwashed and that is simply because they have not felt that deep love in their hearts that only God can put there. And I am speaking from experience. I use to laugh at people who said they were "saved". Only because I had no clue. Now I understand what "saved" means. It is a life choice. God gives us free will.

Answer 3

I can clearly see (by looking at some of the questions in this forum and some of the people in our society) where you would get such an impression. However, I would have to say that accepting Jesus is nothing like being brainwashed. Try to imagine this:

"Accepting Jesus" is about forming a relationship with Jesus. We are taught that Jesus IS love. That is His nature... Love... Pretty cool, I think. In my own personal relationship with Christ, I have come to realize that we are ALL part of God's creation, whether we be Gay, Straight, Bi, White, Black, Muslim, Jew, whatever... And that doesn't matter. What matters is forming that relationship with God. For me, it's like falling in love. Love has most certainly changed my life. The woman I'm going to marry is the most beautiful, amazing, smart, funny, and exceptionally awesome person that I have ever met... Now. Here's my point. In loving Christ, we feel many of the same emotions, thus, it changes who we are. We have never felt that way before and we change... Those who are brainwashed aren't brainwashed by Christ, but by man.

Remember the quotation, "We have just enough religion to hate, but not enough to love." -Jonathan Swift

Hating is easier than loving. Love means acceptance... That your way isn't the only way.

Answer 4

I get your point but accepting Jesus doesn't rob us of free will. We are still accountable for our choices and actions. For me, believing in a Higher Power is comforting and I have the freedom to turn my back on that at any time if I do feel brainwashed or trapped. Your question isn't offensive because some "religious" people go way over the line trying to jam their ideologies down everyone's throats and I can see how that would get to you.

Answer 5

"Brainwashed" is so overused. The brainwashing techniques used in cults has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christianity in its more conservative forms.

It's true that SOME so-called Christian groups are actually cults that employ a small amount of the many techniques used for brainwashing, but overall,there is no similarity whatsoever with brainwashing and accepting Jesus.

Cult expert Carol Giambalvo quotes from psychologists West & Langone, who give the following definition:

"A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g., isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, Information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it, etc.) designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community." (West & Langone. 1986).

Sorry, but this definition HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ACCEPTING JESUS.

Answer 6

What it all comes down to is faith. You either believe or you don't. It's a choice each person has to make, whether or not, or in what religion, to believe in. I, nor anyone else, can convince you of which religion, if any, is the best, or which to believe. That is completely up to you. However, before you completely dismiss Christianity, give it a try. Go to church and listen before you make a decision. In whatever you choose, Good Luck!!!! By the way, I am a Christian and I do believe in the Bible. I just don't ram it down everyones throat.

Answer 7

Religion runs a distant second to the power of brainwashing of popular culture.

A proper exposure to God and religion can help to counteract the real brainwashing that popular culture is constantly throwing at all of us in books, movies, TV, songs, advertisements, and even video games.

Popular culture is constantly bombarding us with intensive, not-so-forcible indoctrination, aimed at setting up worldly convictions and attitudes.

Popular culture comes at us from all directions including books, movies, TV, songs, advertisements, video games and even the Internet.

A few of the these immoral values include:
- Lust and Sex (outside of marriage)
- A disrespect for God and religion
- A disrespect for lawful authority
- A disrespect for our human dignity
- Envy, greed and consumerism
- Anger and Violence
- Drugs including smoking and alcohol
- Vanity, outside is more important than inside
- Prejudice and hate

I think that if we expose our children to all this immorality without the moral anchor of God and religion "until they can come to a conclusion of their own" then we would be unwise, irresponsible, and frequently too late.

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

The best way I can describe it, is...I am a different person. I believe that Jesus came bled , died and rose for me. By knowing this...I know that I will have a better life in the other world. I know that by reading and understanding his ways, I don't have to fear. Fear is what he tells us not to do. You live better. You feel better when there is hope!
Love is what he tells us he is about and I feel love. I try to help people when I can. I treat people the way I want to be treated and I get the same in return. It just feels better. I'm not stress about anything. And I have reasons to be. Thank you Jesus! He tells us to bring it all to him and I do! I love what he stands for and I am glad that he forgive me of my sins. It just makes me want to be a better person.
Knowing that the suffering of people in this world will be no more is Good News! All the mishap that people endure is but only for a short time. There will be no more crying, dying, and sorrow in the new world. Seeing your love ones again! (WOW!!!!) Isn't that Good News? I don't know about you, but I love what Jesus did for me! Get in to it! Try it!

Answer 9

I would say that it is the drastic change that makes the difference in the person's life. Whether you follow Christianity or not, it does discourage doing bad things, so if someone "finds Jesus", it often means they have stopped doing all the bad things that were ruining their lives. One could do this without religion as well, it's just the commitment to something less deviant that gives them a "new life". "Finding Jesus" is an easy way to do this, as there is a strong community to support you in your change.

Answer 10

Brainwashing implies the breaking down of one's spirits so that you completely believe what you are being told. You'd be hardpressed to find any new convert who has not done extensive searching on their own and came to their own conclusions. People in cults, and even certain denomonations, probably border on brainwashing.

Answer 11

I am a new creature in Christ, the old things are passed away.

I am not brainwashed, I dont ignore the things that people say contridict my faith, I seek them out, and research it. I did not become a Christian cause someone told me to, I used my BRAIN, and I looked for answers, and I found them.