Define brainwashing.?

Question

It irks me that people keep calling us Christians brainwashed because we're raised in our faith. Some, like myself, chose to be Christian after searching other faiths. That's not brainwashing.

So, tell me, is it brainwashing when a Wiccan raises their child in Wicca? Or a Hindu raises their child in their faith? Or Buddhist? Or Jew? Or Muslim? It's a religion. It helps form who we are. Should these people stop raising their kids with the beliefs they hold close to their heart because you don't like it?

Whoops, forgot to add if an Atheist wants to raise their child in their beliefs.

Answer 1

Brainwashing is getting someone to do what you want them to do or overcoming one's mind that is weak. Rasing a child in any faith is not brainwashing cause as they get older they will be expose to choose or stay with what they have always believe, regardless of what parents think they should believe.

Answer 2

I don't think that Christians are wrong because the Qu'ran teaches me to be tolerant. I also don't think that Christians have been brainwashed although some it seems refuse to accept any other religion and have a severe hatred for Islam. The most annoying thing is that people think they have Islam figured out from what they have heard from TV and from anti-islam websites. Some people have been brainwashed to be intolerant to other religions just as terrorists, who happen to be muslims, have been to kill people. We should pity them as they are weak-minded.
When a Christian starts to denounce another's faith by mocking its main beliefs then it looks as though they have been brainwashed.

Answer 3

It is plainly a catchy word that most people specially in this yahoo answers use.. when they have nothing to defend their arguments.

As you said, Christianity is something that we cherish from birth.. form that very right moment I got baptized with my God father and God mother standing side by side. I'm happy the way I am today and what I believe in. my life is filled with joy. Its not because of wealth or anything else. Its the fact that I'm a christian from the very first moments in my life. You could never call that Brainwashing.

Christianity is open to anyone. specially for those lost ones.
As humans you have a choice. If you accept Christianity as your religion.. you cannot call it brainwashed. Its a choice you made and a good one.

Answer 4

I am an atheist and I have raised my children to make up thier own mind`s on religious beliefs, I have told them what I think about the story`s handed down for hundred`s of year`s that have been invented or distorted, how extremely unlikely and illogical the whole theory of all religious belief is, the theory of a superior being looking over us and protecting us, if that were true why do people die of terrible illnesses, million`s die of starving through lack of food, people dying in the name of religion because they believe in a different god (make your choice, which god will you choose), not making a very good job of it is he(your god).
Brainwashing is people coming to my door trying to convince me to believe what they believe, religious education being taught in school`s even though I don`t want my children`s brain`s filled with these totally unproven and unlikely teaching`s, people standing on boxes spouting out about what they want me to be gullible enough to believe, even on here many question`s are twisted so that believer`s can try to convert or convince me to follow their faith, that`s what I mean by brainwashing, not just children being raised with the threat of an eternity in an imagined hell if they don`t adhere to what their parent,s drum into them regardless of how unlikely those beliefs are, (why cant I eat pork, why cant I cut my hair, why cant I eat beef, why must I give something up for Lent, why must I be circumcised,) all with no reason or explaination, just blindly do it because someone one hundred or one thousand year`s ago decreed it to be that way, why don`t we still make human sacrifices as the Inca`s and many other past believer`s did albiet for yet another so called god, were they right, or were they brainwashed.
If you don`t want the truth , don`t keep asking, I am quite happy that you want or need to believe, I only ask that I am not expected to follow your line of thinking just because you think I should.
Chris.

Answer 5

Hitler said, "If you tell a lie loud enough and often enough and long enough people will believe it."

The christians who believe without thinking beyond what they are told over and over in an atmosphere of hysteria are brainwashed. They are believing that which is contrary to historical facts.

Not all christians are brainwashed. Only those who call themselves evangelicals, Born again, etc. who parrot the latest catch phrase without being able to define its meaning.

Answer 6

telling people what you think and raising them up in it IS a form of brainwashing but when the child goes off and becomes a chraistain are you going to disown that child? NO!!! I am a firm believer in Jesus and its not because ..i grew up in the Bible Belt...i coose to be who i am and i like it that way !!!!

Answer 7

The bible clearly states: “You, fathers, do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah." Eph 6:4

So it is required of us to teach our children.....plus don't you parents teach your children everything that you know? How to make a sandwich for example.... you probably do it different than someone else does...and your children learn to make it the way you do.....Does this mean you are brainwashing your child?

Of coarse a parent will teach their children.... Every parent has influences on their children....

Answer 8

brainwashing is saying you had a grandma monkey. because this 1 inch^2 bone from this cave belongs to a monkey and the other tiny bit is a human tooth, and they go together perfectly! yes, with this 0.001 part of the skeleton, and the rest is imaginary figure in clay, it is the missing link!

ain't that a story now!

Answer 9

http://www.serendipity.li/sutphen/brainwsh.html

This site talks about TRUE brainwashing. The only group I know of that comes close to being true brainwashers is the Evangelical/Pentecostal revival type church.

Answer 10

Brainwashing? in one word - - - EVOLUTION.
The biggest hoax in the history of the World.