Do you think you were brainwashed by religion?

Question

not trying to offend anyone, but a snake that talked a woman into eating a fruit, 2 of each animals in an arc, a man eaten by a whale and surviving inside it without being killed by stomach acids, walking on the water????

Think about it

Answer 1

I was at one time. But I escaped.

Answer 2

It never fails to amaze me that people always seem to think of brainwashing or that all people who are Christians are the same. Guess what, IT'S NOT TRUE. I could reason with my beliefs against anyone here because I have researched there where, why and hows. I haven't settled for what my english version of the Bible says, I go back to the original texts. Besides if every group of people that lived before us believed in some type of god, then you tell me who's brainwashed. Just like poeple that think evolution has been proven, it hasn't unless of course you assume that while things changed, they still remained the same. I don't go around spitting my beliefs in others faces, I don't condemn people who don't believe everything as I do, Paul said come and let us reason together. He didn't say come and let us argue and scream and yell. But that seems to be how most people do it. It drives me absolutely insane (although I have been told that's not a very far drive lol) Just as Evolution says that if you give things enough time the impossible is possible, If you believe in God then the impossible is possible, doesn't sound much different to me. Well other than one holds you accountable in the end. Anyway, good night and God bless.

Answer 3

Is it any less absurd than evolution?

The best example of whether God exist is the Human Brain.

Studies, like that done by the University of Michigan, and features in the Discovery Channel program, The Amazing Life of the Human Brain, shows just how amazing the human brain is.

Every second while awake, we are absorbing 40MBs of data per second. That’s 144 gigabytes per hour and about 2 terabytes per day. That’s a lot of data even for the largest computer. When we sleep at night, and only at night or under nighttime conditions, all that data is sorted and stored through the creation of synaptic connectors and biochemical bounds. The brain has enough volume to allow for the creation of these storage connectors to last over 10,000 years.

Without the need of a creator, what evolutionary pressure could cause the need for this much volume that would take that long to fill? Clearly, man was either created by God to live that long, or if evolve, once lived that long, and has since de-evolved to what we are today. Which do you think it is?

Evolution does take place, in that animals have evolved and humans have de-evolved since the time of the creation. Many divergent species are related, such as the Meerkat/Hyena and the Lion/House cat. A house cat can breed with a lion, I wonder if the same is possible the Hyena and Meerkat?

This is why I believe in God. I use the brain he gave me, and designed for me, to determine something beyond imagining.

Answer 4

First of all, if you believe in a religion, then you are "brainwashed." But, if you have a relationship with the Almighty God, then you aren't. The only kind of "washed" that you are is washed in the holy blood of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for you to purify you from your sins. Sure, people will make fun of you and tell you that you are, but they are just unsure of themselves and you just have to learn to ignore them like I do. Also, if your faith is stabilized and you are strong, then you will eventually prove others wrong and they will have nothing else to say. Trust me, I have gone through it. Although it took me almost an hour, in the end, all the other person could say was, "Yeah, whatever." If you somehow "beat" a Christ follower, that only proves that there are fake Christians and that there are some that just aren't ready. In response to all the events, although nobody has enough proof to say it DID happen, nobody has the proof to say that it DID NOT. If you do, contact me and I'm sure it won't be real or enough.

Answer 5

I'm agnostic, but I'll answer anyway. I think SOME people are brainwashed by religion. These are people who were born and raised in a specific religion and this is all they ever know. These can be specific religious sects/cults/churches whatever. I also think that a lot of religious people have questioned their religion and/or discovered over religions. I don't think they were brainwashed, but rather made a decision that worked best for them. There are incredibly brilliant, wonderful people out there who have a vast knowledge of different religions and who have simply chosen to accept one or not. I doubt that brainwashing would apply to them.

Answer 6

Back then people were not very educated.... this was the best way to get the message out. The message was faith, love and hope.
Faith does not ask for proof, but stories that get the message out such as the ones you are mentioning in your question are helpful.... it's really what gets the attention of those who have no interest at all- like people in the jungles for example, who hear what Christianity is about for the first time through these stories from the old testament. Kids also are being introduced to the importance of prayer and faith through these stories. Do you have a better way?

Answer 7

Not really.

I was raised Lutheran as a youth, for what it's worth.

I had an encounter with the "charismatic" Christians. That was pretty weird in its own way....

And then I just sort of internalized everything, and realized that all the showy, outward displays were just that - displays.

Ya, ya....if you really HAVE to show your joy for Jesus, go ahead; I just don't want to have to watch.

Internalizing spirituality means that you do your best to treat your fellow man with dignity and respect.....until he turns into a total dick.....and then you have to decide if it's more "God-like" to turn and walk away or slap him upside the head. Depends on the situation.

Jesus got pretty radical with the money changers.

Na. I was never brainwashed, but I do have some beliefs.

I won't bore or confuse you with them for now.......

Answer 8

I totally agree with you. 100%! I used to be brainwashed by religion, yes. I think part of the reason for that is because everybody wants to fit in and be liked. One way to meet people is church. But religion to me = brainwashing and control. Religion was meant to control a large group of people. Either you believe in the religion of your town, or you banished from the town.... sounds pretty controlling to me. It was pretty clear to me that that is true when all of my friends starting hating me for being nice to an atheist. It made it clear to me that religious people are only kind and tolerant to you if you go to their church. I find it odd that if you look into every single war that was ever fought, it had something to do with religion in some way shape or form. Tolerance kindness and niceness towards all people, or just to the people that think your religion is the right one too?

Answer 9

Yes, it all sounds unbelievable. But then again have you ever watched a Humming Bird? Have you ever loved a child? Have you ever wept at the pain of another? How is it that the emotions and experiences we all experience on a daily basis happened because of a "big bang" that happened millions of years ago. I think not. There has to be an author to this book we call life.

God Bless.

Answer 10

Not really. I do think about it a lot and that comes out in some of the stories I'm writing. Stuff like, Why do we worship an invisible god? Why does God care? Doesn't mean I doubt or anything, just means I think about stuff.

Answer 11

Though not as seriously as some people, yes I was brainwashed by religion. I'm still feeling the effects today in little things like saying "oh my god" when I'm surprised and such. Religion is so ingrained in our culture that it effects us all in some way or another.