Be honest,,,Do you think your religion/church is emotionally manipulative?

Question

Not just to converts, but to children? To get them to be "Good [insert name of church/religion here]?

Both, I am certainly being a **wiseacre** but this is most assuredly a serious question and an honest one..

Answer 1

No. I teach SS and am an AWANAS leader. The whole theme of it is that Jesus loves them. What is so manipulative about that. I don't teach them to be a good christian. I teach them that they shoudl love God.

Answer 2

I don't know if you're asking this to be a smart a$$ or it's an honest question. Either way it is a good question.

The answer could be yes when you are talking about those religions that teach you must be "good" to get to heaven. I say "could" because I don't believe that they actually intend to be manipulative,but that it is sometimes a result.
I am a Lutheran and we teach that it is faith through grace, not good works or even how good we are that gets us to heaven.
So, the honest answer for me is ,no.

Now... you be honest. Are you just being a smart a$$ or is this an honest question? LOL


Glad to hear (read) it, because as I said it is a good question, and there's nothing wrong with being a bit of a smart A .

Uncle John, good answer.

Answer 3

Some times religions can be. But faith is a different thing.
People can only be manipulated emotionally if they want to be or they are at a place in their life where they are emotionally weak. And children are emotionally immature, so yes they can be manipulated. But I don't try to manipulate any one my self. If they want me to help, then I will, but if they are not interested, I leave them alone. It is a persons choice, and they need to study religions and make up their own minds whether they want to believe a certain way, or not believe at all. My religion or church is not relevant, because they are not what answers the questions for me, it is my own belief, and faith in God. And at times, when asked for, my own opinions.

Answer 4

Some of the people that go there are, but the not in the standards and practices.

The guy that does our announcements is someone I believe was a preacher on TBN in a former life (I'm kidding of course). He takes every little thing that happens and makes it sound like God did a miracle. It's very irritating.

But no, they do not emotionally manipulate our children. They tell them Bible stories, let them watch VeggieTales movies and play on the playground.

Answer 5

Manipulative in any case? No, I can't say that is true.

If anything, I've found United Methodism to be an intellectually honest religion...that never hides its eyes from the truth of science, medicine, and technology.

If you've ever seen any of the United Methodist commercials on TV, they have a marketing slogan that I find pretty cool:
"Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors"

respects regards peace

Answer 6

Any good parent is "emotionally manipulative" (Now THERE is a loaded term) in order to get children to learn behavior patterns that are good or necessary. When the child is older, the reasons for the behavior or the knowledge will become clearer - but even in high school, children need to be "forced" or coerced or bribed on occasion to do that which is good for them.

Answer 7

previous yet gold, i desire to respond to. What sign had the worst temper? completely Aries. My dad is one and properly.. He loses temper so actual i merely can not help yet snort. yet he isn't indignant for extremely long. i'm Scorpio and that i used to have undesirable temper, yet those days it takes lots to make me actual indignant. What sign is maximum manipulative? Scorpios, Aquariuses and Capricorns. no would desire to describe this, ideal? yet properly, i'm manipulative. buddy of mine who's Aquarius is manipulative. My mom is manipulative too. and that i comprehend that as warning signs they're too, merely with distinctive approaches. What sign is the main sexual? hands down, that is totally Scorpio. sign of sexuality, what did you anticipate me to respond to, expensive? What sign is the main coldest emotionally? Capricorn and Aquarius. Capricorns and Aquariuses i comprehend are not very chilly yet they're very logical.

Answer 8

Depends on which church.
One example of a emotionally manipulative church are those C.O.G.I.C. and Pentecostal-types that fake (pretend to)heal people with the Holy Spirit.

I know not all churches are like that...
Hopefully...

Answer 9

That's the goal of the church... to control the masses. But it's supposed to be toward a positive end. Salvation. But I think too many people get caught up in the earthly struggle for power over one another.

Answer 10

The church perhaps, the religion no. People run churches and they tend to put pressure on other church-goers to attend all the services, meetings, give money, donate time, etc... Sometimes it becomes more of a social pressure situation and not a place to nurture spirituality.