Why do people think religious are brainwashed?

Question

Ooo I just opened a big ol' can of worms huh?! Try to remain respectful in your answers, thank you.

Answer 1

... you claim to be the servant of a god you've never seen, where the only evidence is a 2000 year old book written by sheep herders during a time when we still believed the earth was flat, where a man is born the son of a god by immaculate conception, water turns into wine, a man walks on water, a snake talks, a stick turns into a snake, a sea parts, and a man rises from the dead after three days, a bush talks, mankind was created from dirt, woman was created from a man’s rib, with a supposedly loving god that throws people into hell to be tortured for eternity if they didn’t do what he says during life, AND this book supports intolerance, and the promotion of prejudice and denial of the human rights of human beings like deriding homosexuality, and abortion, and the followers are EXTREMELY judgemental.

Why would we think your brainwashed? I think its obvious.

Answer 2

Only some, dear....only some. Not all.

People who know me would not describe me as "religious" in standard terms. That doesn't mean I'm not spiritual. There's a big difference.

That said, I've met some "Christians" in my life that just made my flesh crawl. They were so...how can I say this without seeming cruel...

They wanted their answers to Life's problems in the simplest terms possible. Black and white. Either-or. And handed to them on a platter by some "false prophet."

These people were - in many ways - just as human as I, but what was at some point a question...a reaching-out, a curiosity about spirituality and Jesus...became an overwhelming addiction for them.

Soon, their lives were consumed with prayer meetings, services, and virulent, aggressive demonstrations, led by their self-ordained minister.

They were - for all intents and purposes - sheep. They would do anything he asked of them.

I looked at them, and then at people like David Koresh, Jim Jones and Marshall Appelwhite, and there was no question in my mind how cult leaders like that could suck people in and get them to do most anything...including commit suicide.

So, yes. Some are indeed "brainwashed."

Answer 3

I think there are two reasons for it:

1) Studies have shown that people with higher IQs are more likely to be nonreligious (this alludes to the idea that knowledge can free someone from their mental blocks that were established from previous brainwashing),

and

2) Psychological studies have shown that children are EXTREMELY impressionable. (This basically means that, if an adult tells a child something, the child [if young enough] will believe them no matter what. So, if a pair of religious parents started telling their children that God unquestionably exists, the children will believe it, no questions asked. However, since this belief would be firmly rooted early and without any tolerance of questioning, it grows with the child. This mental block between religion and questioning prevents the child in question from doubting the beliefs instilled in him/her by his/her parents. So, in the end, it's pretty much brainwashing.)

Answer 4

Use of the words servant might be a start. The loudest Christians tend to be those that refuse to educate themselves and just spout what they've heard from a priest/pastor. Then there are the fundamentalist muslims who do stupid things like kill for a peaceful god. Most people recognize a certain brainwashing in faith and in belief unsupported by evidence.

Answer 5

Religious people believe in something that not only cannot be proven but is not even in line with any known facts except for an occassional historical event. Since it's an irrational act to believe in something you know based on known facts cannot be true the only explanation is brainwashing.

AD

Answer 6

Because the indoctrination starts when you are too young to make an educated decision. It's grotesque. Parents should be wise enough to let their children grow up and then decide for themselves which religion best suits them. Nobody teaches geometry to a three year old. But people sure don't mind dropping their kids off at Vacation Bible School for a good old fashioned Jesus lesson.

Answer 7

because many of the most common religions push the belief that to question anything about the respective church is to question the respective God and will send you straight to hell.

they look for people at a young age and encourage, (through fear) parents to have their kids put through the assimylation process taught in sunday school.

they use a constant threat to keep people under control. and refuse to allow their members to entertain any other possible viewpoints.

Answer 8

I think that those who hold their churches higher than God are yes, brainwashed. The Religious Church is not God.

Answer 9

Because many don't seem to think for themselves. They simply memorize and upchuck bible verses or slogans they're taught in church without giving answers that show they've actually *thought* about the question.

Answer 10

Because they are. Period.

Tell me that if you were NEVER exposed to your religion, would you have known God as you do today? Of course you wouldnt. Everything you know is what youve been brainwashed into beleiving.