Brain-washed Mormons?

Question

I was just wondering . . . what is the process by which Mormons are brainwashed? I understand how someone might believe a child would be "brainwashed" because of their parents, but what about adult converts? Do Missionaries put a special brain-washing hat on people or hypnotize them? Honestly!?! where do these ideas come from? What is your personal opinion?

I know manipulation is a form of brainwashing, but most missionaries are 19 year old boys, how do they manipulate adults much older and more experienced than they are?

I know it's a little late for this . . . but . . .YES! I am LDS! This question was asked SARCASTICALLY! :D

Answer 1

My friend is Mormon, and so is his family and they are pretty cool. They are not brainwashed.

There are some people in every religon, not just Mormons, who veer-off the consesus, but that is their choice.

There is nothing wrong with being faithful. What you are asking is rude and disrespectful.

Grow-up.

Answer 2

Tennis told a nice story but how does his story relate to the adult converts. They have not been to the "Wal Mart" meetings and heard people over and over say how great Wal Mart is. Most of the older converts to Mormonism have never even been to a Mormon church meeting before they met the missionaries.
According to Tennis shoes the missionaries must have some kind magical power in order to brainwash the new converts so quickly. Nice story but unlikely.
The real thing is that adults can think for themselves and they feel the Mormon church is teaching the correct message and that is why they join the church. They are not being brainwashed.
If you think about it aren't the other religions brainwashing their congregations by telling them over and over how wrong the Mormons are? Are they just like the Wal Mart story but in this story they each get up and tell how wrong the Mormons are. Everyone in the meeting tells them how wonderful it is that they finally saw how wrong the Mormons are. Is this brainwashing by the other religions?
My personal opinion is that the term brainwashed is over used and people can actually think for them self.

Answer 3

The dishwasher works well. They tried the washing machine, but you just get scrabbled brains then, and that doesn't work so well after the fact, so they returned to the dishwasher method. We also have tiny tubes we put up our noses that shoot cleaning solution up there, so we don't have to open our heads so much. That way, the big washing can be done only once a month, instead of once a week.

Honestly, I wasn't brainwashed. We all have the option of accepting the gospel, or not accepting. It's our choice. The church gives every member the chance to ask questions, grow and learn. We aren't told we can't ask questions. We aren't told that we can't look into other churches. We are encouraged to check things out for ourselves.

I left the church a few years ago, started looking for other churches that suited me better. I went to a lot of different ones, even checked out some pagan religions. None fit me. I decided to try the church one more time, just to see how I felt there. I went to a ward that I had never been to, sat and listened to the meeting. During that meeting, I felt more then I had felt in any other church. My heart was opened, and I felt that, for the first time in a long time that I belonged somewhere. It was different than any other church I went to.

I started learning more about the church, talked to my bishop and started asking some really indepth questions. They were all answered. None of the other churches I went to could answer my questions.

This is the reason I'm in the church. It has nothing to do with brainwashing, and everything to do with that fact that this is where God wants me.

Answer 4

I see your point, and I think that anyone who is willing to convert to anything is more susceptable to brain-washing that others. There are usually outside influences as well, such as other family members being members, therefore feeling the pressure to convert, as well as the feeling they get when being taught by the missionaries (I know that you guys call it the spirit, but so many churches say the same thing, it really seems more like the power of suggestion, you tell a person what they should be feeling, and some will).

Liesel.

Answer 5

Your question is based on a false premise. Mormons are not brain washed. Mormonism is not a cult.

LdS missionaries ask "investigators" to read the Book of Mormon. Investigators are also asked to pray to know whether the Book of Mormon is true, if Joseph Smith Jr was a prophet of God, and whether they should be baptized into the LdS Church. No one should be baptized without receiving those answers.

Answer 6

Interesting question and I certainly understand where it comes from if one has not had the experience of feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost in one's life. If one truly has felt the Spirit whisper to them, and that Spirit confirms the truth of something to you, how can you not believe it? If God speaks to you through the Holy Ghost, and you know that God knows it, you cannot deny it then.

Mormons are not brainwashed as you imply, but simply and beautifully, have felt the holy Ghost "witness" to them that what they have heard, what they believe in, is simply the word of God and His truths.

Why else would a 19 year old young man, give up two years of his life, to selflessly serve mankind and spread of the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Why else would someone freely give of 10 percent of their income to God?

The answer to these questions is not brainwashing. It is from experiencing the promptings and whisperings of the Holy Ghost to your heart, mind, and heart. One freely sacrifices all, if possible, for the building up of the kingdom of God having been so blessed by such holy experiences.

The wonderful thing is this is available to anyone who wants such an experience. All yo have to do is be sincere, have a contrite heart and a willingness to learn the truth. God knows the truth. he will reveal it to you if you simple desire it.

Answer 7

well, then maybe you should have simply figured out that its not brainwashing.

Mormons beleive in seeking truth. If you were interested in actual truth, then you would search for information on your own rather than relying on a biased preacher or parent with an agenda. Open your eyes, smell the roses, and quit being just plain mean. It's not very Christian.

Answer 8

They actually remove the brain and put it in the dishwasher. It works really well at washing the brain. People use the term brainwashing in the Mormon religion because they spiritually cannot understand what is going on. so because of the hardness of their heart that is the only logical idea they can come up with.

Answer 9

I don't know why you're identifying Mormons except that they are more Evangelical in N America than most other churches.

People usually get caught up in different belief systems because something is missing in their lives. Whether conversion makes this better or not is mute. Just finding community is enough to enable conversion. At least the Mormons are nice.

Lots of religious converts find solace in like minded hatred of gays, Muslims, Catholic, Blacks, Whites, Asians, Native Americans, Atheists -----------.

Answer 10

the answer is they aren't brainwashed. it's quite impossible. in fact, even little kids aren't brainwashed. Anyone can choose not to believe, even those who were born in the church.
If we are brain washed, it's by the spirit. The Holy Ghost testifies that the things they hear are true. And to say every religion brainwashes is...uh..there isn't even a word for it! Atheism and Agnosticism are religions too! You have to have faith that what you know to not be true is not true... And they are brainwashed too, by society.

Answer 11

I'm Mormon since I was a lil girl, since I can remember i haven't been brainwashed. I deeply believe in it, there's nothing wrong or false in it. I believe in the Gospel and in God.
Don't judge Mormons, if you don't know them!! Please