Why if we are taught to believe religion as children, is it so hard for us to disbelieve it as adults?

Question

Even though it is blatantly obvious it is fake.
EG. Mormonism, and Joseph Smiths rip off of ‘View of the Hebrews’ etc
If Mormons can be so fooled do you think you could be too by your religion?

Answer 1

Christianity is a FEAR based religion used to control the masses!! agree?
Because fear is the most productive tool these mind control cults have to win over and keep followers.
Source(s):
Remember, "god" is nothing more than a nonsense word created by man to explain away all of the things we can't yet understand.

Religion is a disease of the mind, born of fear, which has done nothing but bring untold misery down upon the human race.
If you can't get someone to convert willingly through preaching, fear is the next best tool.

Christianity for instance is based on two principles:

1. If you believe, you will be rewarded with the prospect of an eternity in Heaven when you die.

2. If you don't believe, you will be rewarded with the prospect of an eternity in Hell when you die.

For Christians:

God is all-loving, all-wise and all-merciful, so long as you submit to becoming a slave - salivating and singing heaps of praises on him for all eternity.

Much like an Earthly dictator who rules his subjects under rule of tyranny - submit or suffer.
Two methods in which religion spreads

1)Violence
2)Child Indoctrination

Answer 2

i don't think fooled is a right term. Most people really do believe in their religion. Kids usually just follow what their parents teach them and when they grow up thats the time when they decide on what religion is best for them to follow. I was raised as a Roman Catholic and was even sent to a Roman Catholic School for 15 years. But now that I am an adult and have been exposed to different beliefs, i have realized that i do not exactly believe in all the teachings that i was told while growing up. i also realized that almost all religions have certain things in common. i guess its because some religions are patterned after others.

Answer 3

I promise that this is related.

Two identical twins were separated at birth and raised by different parents in very different locations. They finally found out about each other when they were old men, at least 40 years old, I can't remember the specifics. The strange thing was, they had so many commonalities in each other, it was insane. They were both volunteer firefighters, they both drank from coffee mugs, they prefered the exact same kind of toothpaste, favorite color, and so so many other things.

My point is, was it because they were raised to like these things that they became who they were? You can say yes and I couldn't disagree, but the evidence points me in the other direction. That they're that way from birth. I can't say what all is inherited and what's a choice. That goes beyond my knowledge. But I know that me and my brothers were "forced" our religion on us as children, and I, the middle of the three of us, am currently the only remaining Christian. I can easily give up on life because of all the stuff I have to put up with, but I have reasoned my beliefs thoroughly, and have found Christianity (the belief in Christ, and not the history that people have given to Christianity) to be the truth.

Answer 4

It only becomes unbelievable when people start making their own religion instead of following the Bible. And I am not talking about taking a little here and there and then misunderstanding it "all" I am talking about reading it cover to cover while asking for guidance in understanding from the Holy Spirit every time you open it up to read it. If you haven't done that yet you can't say it is a fake.
Yes Mormonism is a fake Joseph Smith started out to pull a prank on friends and when they fell for it hook line and sinker he ran with it. Catholicism is paganism in the guise of and using the name of Christ or better yet and in their own words "the blessed virgin" But the Bible clearly states that men will think to change times and laws but that God's word never changes and that you can not change one dot or cross a "t" differently in the scripture without going against God.
Any religion that takes man's words or ideas over God's is a false religion orchestrated by Satan himself to lead people away from God the Creator.
I can clearly see why you are fed up with man's religion but please don't confuse it with God's perfect plan and religion which is so simple and easy.

Answer 5

Hmmm well – one person's humble opinion:

1 - The individual is taught that religion is about faith - believing in something that they can not see or prove.

2 - The individual is taught that others (devil etc) will seek to temp them from this improvable un-seeable truth. With arguments of science and common sense etc. To prove faith they must resist these temptations and remain firm in their beliefs.

3 - The individual wants to believe. They may have a need for the spirituality, or the belonging, or the religious-community support, or the sense of purpose, or the moral guidance, or even the religious self-righteousness.

4 - The individual may fear the consequences of not believing – ostracism, being a bad person, the after-life etc.

5 - The individual is surrounded by people of the same faith who believe the same things - teachers, peers and so on. Frankly in their social circle it’s the unbeliever who is weird and illogical.

=^..^=

Answer 6

I was raised Catholic and now I am sort of agnostic. Still, I find comfort in old habits and superstitions. I have often wondered the same thing: Why am I so attached to a religion I can't really believe in?

I think the word comfort is key. The thought that there is no god and that when we die we simply no longer exist is a painful and horrifying thought for me to confront. Religion offers a better explanation, and it explains things in a way I can understand. I would much rather believe that there is a reason for all of this.

Also, there is always a "what if...?" in the back of my head. What if Catholicism is for real? For all I know, it has the same chance of being valid as atheism. If there is a god, I really don't want to offend him. Just in case.

Answer 7

I'm one of the lucky ones who didn't have religion trained into me cos my parents were atheists.

The psychologists will tell you that whatever a child learns by seven will stay for life.

Everything we learn is filtered through or influenced by the 'truths' we learned as children.
Whether those 'truths' were lies or truth hardly matters.
Quite often we don't know why we fear the things we fear; it's probably cos of some experience we had very early.
Of course we can re-programme ourselves but, if what we know is true, why would we?
It takes courage to question and even more to change.
.

Answer 8

If you think that the Book of Mormon is a rip off of View of the Hebrews, then you obviously haven't read one or the other book.

Answer 9

Even in the scriptures, we are taught to "become as little children" and be submissive to the gospel. That is why we are taught when we are young, because we are humble and not easily tempted by the adversary away from the truth...
A person will never gain a true testimony of the gospel until they submit to the commandments and to the will of the Lord. I don't know why that is such a bad thing!

Answer 10

Once one's world view has been shaped, it's always very hard to have it altered later. That's why so many dictatorial governments lie to their people since their childhood again and again for the sole purpose of an effective brainwashing.
However, it fails sometimes, such as me, grown up in a communist country but never believing it now.