For those of you who say that religion is brainwashing?

Question

When you say this, do you mean all religions, or just a few of them---or just the Christian ones?

Answer 1

just Fundamentalism.

Answer 2

Religion is only brainwashing when it is taught to children at a young age. This is especially true if the child does not learn or experience any other religions other than the one that is taught.

However, if someone is an young adult or adult when they find the religion that is true for them, this is not brainwashing. Mostly likely, before converting to their religion they have had contact with those not of the religion; exposure to different religions could have given the person a different perspective before picking the correct religion.

Answer 3

I feel like most religions are a subtle form of brainwashing, with the exception of buddhism, which is all about knowing yourself and being in harmony with the natural world, not about worshipping buddha so much as using him as a model by which to live one's life. That said, I am an atheist, and am bothered by all fundamental religions, religions that are oppressive in any way, and religions that believe violence is the way to god. Religions like wicca, buddhism, and I'm sure there are some others, are really harmless, and I don't consider them to be as bad as the others.

Answer 4

Religion was created as a form of control. Since the begining of recorded history, the rulers were said to be the only ones who could communicate, and translate what the "gods" were saying. Using everyones fear of not knowing what happens after death, they created religion to make people act as the rulers wanted them to. Through time, it has evolved into what it is today, but it still serves the same purpose.

I for one am not going to believe in a bunch of childs stories to make me be nice. those of you out there who do believe in whatever religion, have probobly been "brainwashed" since birth.

Answer 5

for a religion to survive it needs people believing, so when it has an economical purpose it is vital that people belief...there are many religions that are so linked to the political reality of the country that their churches have no fear of them dissapearing so they dont need to brainwash anyone, they come already brainwashed from home and no one dares to discredit that religion, since it makes a whole with government...Christian religion is different, unfortunately for church fathers, christian religion has set ground on countries where there is a difference between politics and religion, the religion managers need people to believe in order to carry on with their business so they need to brainwash people´s minds

Answer 6

Not every element of religious belief or practice is brainwashing: sometimes it's the opposite, and helps people to critically open their minds to experience, and to ways of living commensurate with human happiness.

However, a lot of religious dogma IS brainwashing, and uses manipulative cognitive traps to head off critical or compassionate thinking.

Most commonly, religions exploit poorly understood and deep seated fears and anxieties, guilt, and fear of aloneness.

As a rule of thumb, any religion that promises dire consequences for questioning its teachings, such as eternal hellfire, or the death penalty for apostacy, is psychologically manipulative.

On a more trivial level, we should question the commitment to truth of any religion that defines criticism as "offensive".

Answer 7

Any religion that encourages people to follow their parents belief, go to a religion orientated school, and accept their preachers word as truth without ever seriously questioning the religion is brainwashing.

Answer 8

All religions are brainwashing to some extent, exactly as raising children involves some brainwashing. Personally, I'd rather someone be a Mormon than a gang member, tho. But best of all would be for each person to throw off the lies and accept a RELATIONSHIP with God. My point is that religions all tell what one must do to get to God. Only Jesus Christ has shown that God already did it all for us; we need only accept that, trust that He did it all for us, and enjoy a relationship with Him. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Answer 9

All religions brainwash the flock.

Answer 10

Yes religion is brainwashing the Fundamentalists
Charismatics and Evangelicans they do it so
well on people and they
really brainwash people down to their level
the stupid fundy's

Answer 11

It's not the religion itself that's brainwashing, but the way it is spread and passed on.