Describe how the Christian church brainwahses Its members, I am sure you have some idea of the Mo the church uses, I can tell you the mormons use to use this MO when I was a mormon ,but the chirstians do not use it, therefore, I do not see that I am being brainwashed, mind controled or indoctrinated:
Satan controls those that are not members of the LDS church, Satan is after me, Gid is nothing more then Big brither and watching me all the time. The netweork set up to make sure members do not stray and other tatctics to keep members intact.
2007-10-01
03:10:55
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27 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
in
Society & Culture
➔ Religion & Spirituality
For most of you I consider their to be a bigf differance between the mormon cult and a christian churh, I grew up mormon but became a christian just recently, so you can't say i was brainwashed by growing up christian, but for some of you, I am still brainwashed, oh well.
2007-10-01
03:25:28 ·
update #1
why would it bother anyone if I ask how they think? I want to know your opinion, not indoctrinate you.
2007-10-01
03:27:56 ·
update #2
Actually, I am currently making a study of brainwashing for a forum presentation at the end of the month. Most of the techniques I have read about apply mostly to evangelical Christians, not more moderate denominations.
Much of it centers around the use of the term "faith" as something you (a) must have, and (b) will only get as a gift from God. So imagine what happens to someone who cannot feel the faith, at least not the way it is described to them.
Faith generally is belief in the absence of evidence, or even in the face of evidence to the contrary. We would not accept such a standard of belief in any other area of our lives, so naturally people find it hard in religious matters. But if they have doubts, they are told they need faith. If they ask questions about the inconsistencies in the Bible, or even the inconsistency between what the preacher says and what they find in the Bible (in one passage or another) or what they know to be fair and reasonable, they should pray for more faith.
The techniques that are employed are defined by psychologists who have studied the issue. They are:
Milieu Control. This involves the control of information and communication both within the environment and, ultimately, within the individual, resulting in a significant degree of isolation from society at large.
Mystical Manipulation. There is manipulation of experiences that appear spontaneous but in fact were planned and orchestrated by the group or its leaders in order to demonstrate divine authority or spiritual advancement or some special gift or talent that will then allow the leader to reinterpret events, scripture, and experiences as he or she wishes.
Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here.
Confession. Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor or publicly to the group. There is no confidentiality; members' "sins," "attitudes," and "faults" are discussed and exploited by the leaders.
Sacred Science. The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or dispute. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The leader, as the spokesperson for God or for all humanity, is likewise above criticism.
Loading the Language. The group interprets or uses words and phrases in new ways so that often the outside world does not understand. This jargon consists of thought-terminating clichés, which serve to alter members' thought processes to conform to the group's way of thinking.
Doctrine over person. Member's personal experiences are subordinated to the sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the ideology of the group.
Dispensing of existence. The group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not. This is usually not literal but means that those in the outside world are not saved, unenlightened, unconscious and they must be converted to the group's ideology. If they do not join the group or are critical of the group, then they must be rejected by the members. Thus, the outside world loses all credibility. In conjunction, should any member leave the group, he or she must be rejected also.
Doesn't this sound like evangelistic Christianity to you? Have you seen the movie "Jesus Camp"?
2007-10-01 04:07:15
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answer #1
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answered by auntb93 7
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Brainwashing need not mean swinging pocketwatches or drug therapy: it's merely the effort made to force people away from their previously held ideas and into new, unquestionable ones.
A Christian upbringing often, but not always, includes indoctrination into old ideas regarding the creation of man, his place in the world etc, with no opportunity to question these beliefs, and thus he is brainwashed. Observing the kind of clappy-happy mega-churches that exist, such as Hillsong, and the propaganda sent out constantly to Christians from televised pastors, one can easily see that such people are literally being brainwashed into throwing away a reliance upon empiricism and evidence to move into an easier system of blind belief.
It's subtle, especially to those who are already being indoctrinated into the faith of the Christian Church, but definitely exists. All the "born-agains," whose belief in science and man's own power to shape his life was utterly destroyed when, as they say, God came into their life and "saved them." Despite all the evidence to the contrary, many fight valiently for the cause of creationism not because the concrete evidence tells them it is a likely theory, but because religion, and their elders and their peers and their supposed God tells them so.
Really, it's all rather creepy. Listen to yourself: religion is a network that ensures people "do not stray" - anyone who questions the fundamental ideas held by the Christian Church is a heretic. This is, indeed, brainwashing.
2007-10-01 03:22:03
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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OK.
First, denial or extreme restriction of natural impulses. Christianity has used sex, food, sleep, and physical comfort throughout the years. Sex and food still remain as prevalent impulses which Christians deny themselves or severely restrict in order to worship their god.
Sex - No sex before marriage, no homosexual sex, no sex outside of marriage, restricted or no masturbation, no lustful thoughts, etc. Certain teachings are against oral sex and anal sex even within marriage, and certain teachings are also against various sexual positions.
Food - fasting. Pretty self-explanatory.
Also - Lent. Catholics in particular (and perhaps some other denominations, I'm not sure) give up something they like in order to worship their god during the period between Fat Tuesday and Easter.
Another method is terrorism. Yes, I said terrorism... which is the use of fear in order to achieve a religious or political goal.
"Believe this or burn forever," is the *ultimate* terrorism.
Use of guilt - Christians are taught that they are inherently bad. Christianity names sins that no human being can possibly refrain from - like certain thoughts, for instance. The crucifixion story is nothing but a huge guilt trip. "After all Jesus did for you, you just keep on hurting him with your sinning," and similar sentiments.
Indoctrination of children - Children believe what their parents tell them to believe. Parents teach children a one-sided belief that has no evidence to support it. They don't say, "This is what I believe, but here's all the other positions on the subject of god and religion." No, of course not. Instead they say, "Here's the *truth*. No doubt about it. Believe it, and you'll not only please god, you'll please me, too."
If that's not indoctrination, I don't know what is.
Aversion to skepticism and doubt - Christians are made to feel that doubts are bad, that if they doubt they should have more faith, should pray more, etc. Many Christians get extremely uncomfortable with questions. They will say questions are OK... but usually this means that questions are OK so long as you believe the answer. Questions are sometimes seen as blasphemous, even.
Eventually the Christian will become angry, scared, or offended because of their beliefs being questioned.. They will often abandon the argument and switch to sneakier tactics, such as telling the questioner that they "feel sorry for them," that they "don't want them to go to hell", which is a veiled threat, or that the person "can't understand unless they believe."
There is very little if any difference between mainstream Christianity and LDS. I spent two decades as the former, and my brother has been the latter for several years.
2007-10-01 03:25:00
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answer #3
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answered by Snark 7
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I remember when I was little I was told by Christians not to believe in science. When I was in the 4th grade I asked if dinosaurs were mentioned in the bible, and they said yes, and that the bible even had the exact measurements of the first dinosaur found. LOL They lie and pretend it's in accordance with facts and science. Not just that, but the entire religion itself brainwashes. It's a fear-based religion. Whenever someone sees proof against the bible they cast it aside as Satan. The 'unforgivable sin' is denying the holy spirit and god. Stuff like that. Pretty effective at brainwashing, no?
2007-10-01 03:23:05
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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why does it bother you what others say? I do not practice any religon, I feel they are all too strict, I do well in life without it. My biggest problem with religon is that most of them practice for an after life, I do not live for an after life I live for today. Instead of thinking about every move I make sin or not I just make my own mistakes. Although I believe this you are entitled to what you believe in as everyone else is. Just practice what you will and dont worry about what others say. Just like if you said mormons are brainwashed someone would ask why do you think we are brainwashed. Practice what you will but be tolerant of other opinions too...... this is why we have so many wars, no one is tolerante to other beliefs.... brainwashed or not.
2007-10-01 03:19:12
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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If you have doubt, you are not a good Christian. Your need for acceptance provokes you to try harder to conform.
To stay in faith you must read the bible constantly, go to church and have the Bible teachings reinforced. This is done so that there is no room for doubt. They have to immerse themselves in the culture of the church at all times.
This is brainwashing. You are expected to abandon your natural ability to reason and rationalize in order to be a part of your religion. You are asked to accept implausible claims as being true. You are chastised for questioning and scrutinizing your religion, If your beliefs are real, they would hold up to even the most intense scrutiny.
Faith is REQUIRED to accept your beliefs, not proof not even truth but faith. All aith requires in the ability to abandon reason.
Then there is fear and coercion. You are promised a great reward if you stay true to the "faith" and promised an unimaginable torture if you do not.
These are classic brainwashing tactics.
2007-10-01 03:43:25
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answer #6
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answered by Equinoxical ™ 5
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Where to start?
*The churches target children, aiming to get them into the fold before they start reasoning.
*They teach that unquestioning belief is a virtue.
*They teach that those who agree with them will be rewarded and those who don't will be punished.
*They give easy answers to complicated questions and encourage the believers not to look at the evidence.
*Anything that goes against their particular view of their faith is automatically regarded as wrong and to be avoided. And not just by the faithful - they try to get such subjects banned in schools, etc.
*They repeatedly state that there 'are no atheists in foxholes' and similar expressions, to suggest how at the crunch everyone agrees with them.
*They use rituals and chanting (they call it prayer and hymns) to reinforce their messages.
Doesn't this sound like what you'd do if you wanted to brainwash people?
2007-10-01 03:54:41
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answer #7
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answered by The Truth 3
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Brainwashing your own innocent naive children is bad enough, but whenever I ask an adult Christian a direct question they generally respond with scripture. It's as if they are unable to form their own opinions and must rely on some "higher authority" to substantiate their own thoughts. A person who thinks like that has been very effectively brainwashed.
2007-10-01 03:29:58
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answer #8
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answered by Diogenes 7
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I don't know about other churches but "brainwashing" is not done at the church I go to. We tell people constantly to think for themselves and to question the leaders and teachers. Don't blindly accept what the preacher says. So I don't like when I get lumped in a generality about how people have come to their beliefs or what churches do. In the end, we have the ability to think for ourselves and I would hope that all Christians are doing so! Be blessed.
2007-10-01 03:21:50
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answer #9
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answered by Cool Dad 3
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The majority of Christians, and indeed the majority of theists in general, believe what they're taught as children. And since children lack the critical thinking skills to consider what they're taught objectively, childhood indoctrination could be considered a form of brainwashing. Certainly it's in direct opposition to freedom of religion.
As a rule, if you believe something absolutely but have no logical justification whatsoever, then you've probably been brainwashed to some extent.
2007-10-01 03:16:06
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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