Christians brainwashed?

Question

Why is it that everybody views us Christians as "brainwashed"? Because we have beliefs different than yours it means we are incapable of having our own beliefs?

Answer 1

People hate what they do not understand. Us christians in our heart know that Christ is the Savior, and how to live our lives for him. It is a easy cop out from knowing what they already know in there hearts. I wouldn't let it bother you. Like Jesus said, they hated me, they will hate you.

Answer 2

First of all, let me start with a disclaimer:

My answer does not apply to ALL christians and neither does the term brainwashed, although I would agree that it applies to many of them. My wife is Christian and she is not brainwashed. I have met several christians, however, who were hopelessly lost in their own faith. In the last few days I have seen several posts from christians who clearly have no idea what christianity and the bible are about. They have been taught (brainwashed) some bizzarre version of christianity, and I feel for them. My father-in-law is a prime example. He can quote any verse, in different versions. He praises god with every breath. After spending a month traveling with him on our way to Mexico I can honestly say that he is by far the least spiritual person I have ever met. He is so blinded by his own faith that he can't accept the mere mention that he might be wrong. I don't have anything against christianity, I think it's a beautiful religion, but this guy is just plain wrong on just about every count.

I have friends in the States, a married couple, who are 'devout' christians, and they don't seem to have a clue. They lead this life of so-called piety but nothing about their life is healthy. They live like zombies. They have seven or eight kids now and it scares me to think of children being raised in such an environment.

On the other hand I have met christians who are free thinking and very spiritual. I think the term brainwashed could just as eaily be applied to any group of people on an equal basis. Look at your average American for example:

Inundated from birth with consumerism. Buy, buy, buy is the message that is pounded into our brains until we reach a point where the only way we can be good people is to buy something. Its gotten so bad that people are actually selling debt. They are openly marketing debt. And people go for it. In my opinion, religious brainwashing doesn't hold a candle to these guys.

I think many christians (and members of any religion, by the very nature of religion) are in fact brainwashed. They cannot see that someone else might have something to say that is of value, simply because it doesn't come from a fellow christian or from a christian point of view. Challenges to our faith are one of the things that help us grow, but when we dismiss these challenges casually because they do no agree with our little view of the world we only hurt ourselves. Why else would God send us such a message in the first place.

And I ask you....DO you have your own beliefs? Or do you believe whatever the bible says, or whatever your minister says, or whatever your parents say. Where do your beliefs come from? Can you truly say they are your own, or do they come from someone else? After all the idea behind brainwashing is that the victim not realize they have been brainwashed.

With love,
Shane K.

Answer 3

This view you speak of, comes from more educated, and more evolved people. people who still hang on to beliefs such as Gods, and afterlife, still have the primitive DNA molecule that is responsable for this.

A great many people have evolved beyond this, and can rationally see and understand that religion was created by primitive beings as a way to better cope with the harsh world around them.

Later religion was used by a slightly less primitive mind as a way to establish controll over the more primitive people.

people tend to call the religous teachings as a type of brainwashing, because it is... you take a small innocent child and make that child live in fear of a loving, but vengefull god, to the point of that concept becomming an invisible reality for that child.....THAT IS BRAINWASHING......making someone believe in somthing as absurd as an invisible deity is not just brainwashing, but very, very wrong.

I am sadly suprised to find that there are still a great number of primitives in the world, however, the numbers of the primitives grows less every years, perhaps your grandchildren will never have to be brought up in a world where people have this belief in these false petty gods.

Answer 4

People refer to us as brainwashed because we quote scriptures at them instead of coming up with our own answers. People call us brainwashed because we have an almost anal compulsion about trying to convert others. It's the little things that make us brainwashed.

Answer 5

Many Christians, particularly in USA, are brought up with Christianity from when they were very tiny. Their parents take care not to expose them to anything that might contradict the Christian viewpoint, which is what 'Christian schools' and 'homeschooling' are about.

It isn't really covered by 'brainwashing', which only applies to people having existing ideas replaced. 'Indoctrination' is a better word.

Answer 6

I don't view all Christians as brainwashed - just the ones who deny every shred of scientific evidence that doesn't agree with a strictly literal interpretation of the Bible, especially as that tends to happen due to being told over and over again that any disagreement with the Bible is a Sin and you're Going To Hell if you don't fall into line.

Answer 7

Because they do not care to believe that people can have and believe in different religions. I truly feel that if you bash others religion you are going against your own religion, as I do not believe that anyone says to BASH others.

We need to be more accepting of others and their beliefs, and if we don't agree, so what, don't get into a conversation about it. Believe what you want, Worship who you desire, and let those who feel they MUST cram their way of thinking down our throats choke on their own words, because I don't think their religion would want them doing what they do here on line to others!

Praise God!

Answer 8

Why? Because any religion, since it is not evidence-based, involves dogmatic indoctrination. Brainwashing is a bit harsh I think, but you can't deny that you wouldn't have come up with your set of beliefs without someone teaching you, instructing you and sometimes brainwashing you into incorporating them into your belief system.

Answer 9

They don't understand how someone would believe in God, and that we sin against him, and that crime against God is punishable by death, they don't know the freedom Jesus has given us by laying down his own life and paying for our salvation. They think all Christan's were raised up to be judgmental, irrational and unable to think for themselves from a young age. Or they have fallen away from God, and started looking to themselves for answers.
I am thankful that I chose to be a Christan at 22 yrs old after a lot of studying of pagan, Wicca, Judaism, Hindu, Muslim and science...It was the only one that proved to be true to me. Praise the Lord, peace and blessings.

Answer 10

Atheism is the lack of faith--It is also the worship of scientific fact. Scientific fact is brain washing to it's utmost. An Atheist selects the knowledge he/she chooses and ignores the rest. Look at Darwinism to see the truth and reality of science. Then read Darwinism refuted.com

Answer 11

I agree with you. I asked a question along the same lines some time ago. What I was asserting is that while SOME Christians (and other various religious people) are brainwashed, not ALL of them are. MANY religious people thought it through carefully, and performed many months (if not several years) of diligent research.

I am one of them. I spent thirteen years studying different religions, I was an atheist or a skeptic most of my life, and just became a Christian nine months ago, almost to the day.

Edit: And even though I made my decision, it hasn't stopped me from CONTINUING my research.