Is this how your religion brainwashes you?

Question

Here are some ways I have noticed...can you add any?

You know that all people are VERY predictable? we all react the same in a 'group mentality' situation. we all have the same mental cues, and can be easily manipulated, as shown here in a 'instant conversion' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sq-YUdq1OI&mode=related&search

using our fears of death, and our loss of loved ones against us

praying and praying and chanting/singing is a tool for "autohypnosis" and "psychological manipulation."

the 'carrot and the stick' method for good and bad...heaven and hell.

and above all, the clause that says 'don't test the word of the God.

oh and telling people what they want to here.

bless you Leonarda...thats the most brainwashy answer I've ever seen! lol

lol...it just sounded so blissfull and peacefull

Answer 1

I'm not brainwashed by my religion because I chose it, I choose to be Muslim, I choose to admit that there is only one god in this world and that we are created to worship him. I think that the smarter you get the easier it gets to see that this universe has to have a Creator that death is not the end I know for a fact that you must have lots of questions about that I'm sure deep down in your heart you know you are wrong you just won't admit it.

Answer 2

No different that the "brainwashing" techniques used by the atheist. Not a single new arguement as been introducted into their arsenal either in 3000 years. Plato and Aristole raised the same arguements as today. Including the arguement that the evolution of the different species argued against a creator.

The same technique of surpressing religious education, and restricting the exercising of religion in public were purposed as methods of stopping religion even as far back as 800BC in Athens.

We have seen how successful that type of brainwashing has been. After more then 70 years, and at least two generation, rowing up in a society with no religious teaching or expression, within 5 years of the collapse of the USSR, studies show that over 70% of the Russian people are now theist.

That is because there is an inner longing within each person to understand why he exist, what his purpose is, and to know the Creator who placed him there. That is why every attempt to end religion has failed and will continue to fail.

There is a God out there, and he is smart enough to know what tactics work on people. Reward for good works, and consequences for bad ones, is something he programmed into humans. Maybe -- just maybe -- because there are really are rewards for good, and consequences for bad. (Ever though about that?)

Oh, and as for prayer: "autohypnosis" might be able to give you a buzz or a feel good. But I have yet to see it answer a prayer. I have seen too many miracles, too many healing, too many times when God has did impossible things to question the power of prayer. In fact, in over 50 years of praying, I have never had a single prayer that was not answered.

While I might be able to fake myself into a "high", I can not fake the miracles that God has performed over those decades for myself and multitudes of others.

Answer 3

As the history of the 20th century shows the best braqinwashing wasn't done by religion but by secular ideologies, Communism ,Fascism etc which were proved much more murderous that even the most crazed religious fanatic Cabodge under the Khmer Rouge regime or the history of the Comusist Russia are proofs to this point

Answer 4

Just as people evolved... so has religion. Over the millennia only a few of the countless religious ideas actually grow into increasingly complex structures... When an alteration to the religious structure is not beneficial, the denomination either dies off or stays local and small.

I thought the youtube video was interesting, but far from surprising. Don't expect this kind of stuff to convince any believers... their iron-clad faith is well protected.

Answer 5

Mine doesn't do this... I think I'm the only one in my particular religion lol But I have seen this many, many times... especially at "Revivals" and even at Funerals (which absolutely disgusts me). They play on people's emotions, knocking them down to feel sad, guilty, scared, etc... and then give words of encouragement to bring them back up. The persons feelings of sadness, etc, they feel are their own, while being uplifted they feel is due to God.... when in all honesty, it's a psychological tactic (psychiatrists have been known to use this to bring people out of a depression). Praying/Chanting/Singing raises a persons personal energy.... it feels good, no matter what prayer, song or chant one uses... they usually pick the thing the group or individual feels closely connected to. I don't think prayer/chants alone are bad, but when a "leader" uses it to manipulate people, I believe it is wrong and the "leader" and others who use it should be held accountable.

I can't stand to see people playing on others emotions, especially when they are down, just to get them to do or believe in something.

Answer 6

Obviously you know nothing about Christianity, so I'm not sure which other religion you are referring to.

In Christianity, we don't use brainwashing, threats, coersion, magic, or any other kind of trickery. God knows our hearts. If someone doesn't genuinly believe in God and Jesus of their own free will, then it would not benefit them to "claim" to believe anything.

So based on your logic, YOU are being manipulated into not robbing liquor stores, raping women, and killing people because you fear going to prison or getting the death penalty. Otherwise you would be doing all that guilt free.

Answer 7

do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet[a] acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God.

Answer 8

I believe the carrot and the stick is the main one.
I have been offered said others.
I Have experienced other arguments but they all seem to come under what you have just stated, more or less, now that I really think about it.
It has taken me 10 mins, so far, and I cant add to your list. Sorry mate.

Answer 9

I couldn't do the organized religion thing,because of the way they try to limit your own personal views,and the way the word fear is used.I cannot love, respect,or believe in anything that brings fear.Fear causes us to do things against our will.I have my own will and I have my peace of mind that I do not fear life or death.There is no word of God,he/she never picked up a pen and wrote down anything so the words don't test Gods word is ridiculous

Answer 10

I'm Pagan. I use self-hypnosis, symbolism and altered states of mind fairly regularly on myself. I'm also non-theistic. And solitary. So I don't care about the opinions of "supernatural" beings, and I don't have to listen to other people.

Is it ok to brainwash myself to become a better person? I think that's what you would term my magic, psychological manipulation. Internal change, to make myself more happy, serene, accepting and confident.