Are Mormons brainwashed?

Question

In this day and age of internet search engines, why don't prospective members of the Mormon faith do a little sleuthing before surrendering their individuality, privacy, choice of underwear and time expected in attending repetitive meetings and goofy socials?

Why don't the investigators read from those who have left the religion, to learn what may be the real scoop?

http://www.exmormon.org/
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Answer 1

Well, think of it this way: do you really believe there are solid gold plates buried in the ground somewhere in Upstate New York, or wherever they are, that have God's personally-written message to Joseph Smith telling him to create this religion? Personally, I think it's baloney.
BUT...
I have good friends who are Mormon, and though I don't really care one way or the other about their faith (it's their business, not mine) I will say that when the chips have been down for me, it was those Mormons who always helped me out with food, clothes, money, even a car once, and never asked for anything in return.
I might not agree with their religion, but these Mormons I know have surely treated me as Christ taught us to do. Most Christians I know have turned their backs on me because I'm Gay. My Mormon friends did not.

Answer 2

Hmm... I don't feel brainwashed...

Why don't all these people who believe sites like exmormon.org go and learn the real thing from CURRENT MORMONS!!!

Think about this. Why would ex-mormons want to tell the real scoop? They will tell you anything derogatory they can think of, true or not, just solely for the purpose of getting you to believe that they were right to leave the church, because no one likes being wrong. I happen to be Mormon, and I have my privacy, all the time I need, I am not quite as good of an individual as I'd like to be but I certainly make all my own choices for my self, and yes, I even have my top choice of underwear!

Get a grip, you ex-mormons and other church-bashers. Why don't you go to exMORON.com (not really recommending that, just making a point... don't really go to it unless you don't care what you see... I've never looked to see if it even exists but I'm sure it does so I would avoid it), maybe then you could get the scoop from people who used to bash the church without knowing what we actually believe or do! Because doing that makes you a MORON!!!

Sorry, I just had to vent... I'm getting very annoyed with all the Haters on R&S...

Answer 3

As the Apostle Paul said, it does seem wise to, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

In this process it's also wise to gage the credibility of the sources of information you use. I recommend being careful with sites like the one mentioned that include many inaccuracies. The writer may be sincere, but I don't believe he's careful enough with accuracy.

Some people believe the ends justify the means, but I don't believe that approach is consistent with Christ's teachings. In other words, some people think it's justified to lie and otherwise mislead as long as you believe you're helping keep people from making a terrible mistake. That's not a righteous principle.

The best way to keep from being deceived is to properly judge using both heart (feelings) and mind together. Does it make sense and does it feel right? God has given us all a brain and He's also given us a conscience to be able to tell right from wrong. You can ask God through prayer to help you through the process.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a great deal to offer people who have a desire to learn more about the purpose of life and God. The links below lead to accurate information about our beliefs.

Am I brainwashed? It depends on your definition of the word. My parents did try to teach me good principles. Hopefully I'm not disappointing them.

Answer 4

I would say no. Not brainwashed, although it might appear to be that way. That is simply because noone wants to believe that the religion they are following is wrong.
I would say that they are misled. Unfortunately, the leaders and teachers of their religion are not the only ones that will have to pay the price for it, although those that lead others astray do pay a price.
I suppose that is why the book of 2 Timothy tells us to "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Studying the word of God in the Bible, and in the Bible ONLY will make you aware when you are not hearing the truth. Just like the people in the treasury service that find counterfeiters, they study the real thing closely enough so that they know a counterfeit bill when they see one.
Unfortunately, a lot of people let others do the work, and just blindly follow along. Therein lies the problem.
If people would just study the word of God, they would not be led astray.

Answer 5

It sounds like you are brainwashed because it is the same story I hear all the time. Just like a brainwashed person is taught to respond the same way all the time. You are not original with your comments. It sounds like you are just repeating what some else has told you.
Mormons are some of the smartest people I know.
You need to do more research so you can come up with an intelligent argument.

Answer 6

To an extent, they are brainwashed a lot more than other religions. They put a very strong emphasis on community, and if you decide to "think for yourself" and not be mormon, you are never spoken to again (even by your mother). That doesn't typically happen in "mainstream" religion. My son has two mormon friends that this has happened to.

Answer 7

It's sad to say, but yes they are. It starts when they are very young, in Primary. The children learn the Primary songs,and the indoctrination begins. If you go to church on Sunday and all you hear is :
This is the only true church, every church is wrong but the LDS church,the Book of Mormon is the only correct book on the face of the earth, the Bible is not trustworthy, and so on you would start to believe all of it to.

Answer 8

Maybe because those things are a bunch of bunk. I was at a pentecostal meeting and thought THOSE people had lost their individuality MUCH more than I or any Mormon ever would. THEY were a CLASSIC case of brainwashing.

Why do you think we have lost our individuality? How many Mormons do you know? Why do you say that those you know have lost their individuality?

As for "choice of underwear", what makes you think that we do NOT choose what underwear we want to wear? Did you ever stop to think that perhaps our temple garments are there for a VERY good and SACRED reason? I wear my temple garments because I WANT TO. They have sacred meaning to me.

As for the time I spend at meetings and "goofy socials", I don't spend near as much time at meetings as those previous pentecostals, who need to go almost every night, to get their FIX. It reminded me more of a drug den than a church, where the people were getting their daily drug fix. And were they HIGH! Addicted to those feelings, the falling down and rolling around, the speaking in unknown tongues (which just exuded evil, IMHO). Waving their arms and closing their eyes and the chanting over and over.

If I was looking to join your church, should I first speak to those who have left, especially if they have left in disgust?

Why don't YOU talk to all of us Mormons and find out why we choose to STAY?

P.S. Goldlust, GOOD ONE!!

Answer 9

I am not a Mormon, but I think this kind of question is pointless. Are you trying to make some kind of point? Mormons beliefs are no more ridiculous than any of the main stream religions.

Answer 10

If I were to want to find the "real scoop" as you put it, I would want to ask God himself. Why would I want to talk to a group of disgruntled people, who have lost their commitments, and have an agenda?

I would be like going to a group of disgruntled Wal-Mart employees and asking them if I should work for Wal-Mart. Would their opinions be neutral and unbiased? Of course not, they would tell me just their one sided opinions.

Likewise, if I want to know about Mormonism, I would want to research as much as I could, including talking to strong Mormon members and the detractors alike, and after being prayerful about it, make my own decision.

I do not want to base MY choices, and MY life on the opinions of others. I want to find things out for MYSELF. That is what I have done and that is why I am grateful to God that I am a Mormon.