Your truths derived from uncontrollable incidents?

Question

Imagine you were taught Mormonism and were a devout Mormon since youth. You lived the rest of your life with Mormon truths and values. Hooray.

Now imagine this same pathway for you, only, by chance, you ran into a pagan-oriented book or magazine (or anything) at age 16, had new thoughts, and were forever changed as a person. Get locked in a room and brainwashed another day and uh hey now you're suddenly sympathetic towards Nazism.

In a way it's funny to look at a character knowing they're merely a mishmash of what they happened to (uncontrollably) experience in life. It's so arbitrary and silly. Makes me see how ridiculous holy wars are!

Answer 1

The point you are missing is the fact that you submit to Mormonism, Paganism, and Nazism. These are forces presented to you and it is up to you to follow them.

Even in the case of brainwash, it is possible (though not probable) to withstand it. It's when you are put into a situation where you have decide enduring brainwashing or submitting to the ideal is a better choice, and that is still your choice to make.

You are ignoring the possibility of rebellion, denial, and independence, once you take the world into your own hands, many new possibilities will open up.

As for these "truths" being derived from uncontrollable incidents, I can hardly call Mormonism, Paganism, and Nazism truths. They are presented to us and that is uncontrollable, but it is our choice to accept them as a truth, or deny them in search of something more.

Answer 2

Your question scares me.
One book does not brainwash people, nor a childhood belief system.
Our minds are functionally optimized to live day to day without getting bogged down by dogma. We can choose to survive with only self preservation as our creed.
When people are kept ignorant, and hungry, their minds become the most pliable to teachings.
I dont think you were starved and then fed if you only listened to Mormonism as a child.
At 16, you might have run into the brainwashers. Remember the routine- hunger, feeding, dogma during period of gratitude.
You may need some counseling, debriefing, grounding, or whatever you call a session to get it all together in your mind now.

Answer 3

The idea that someone would prescribe to a pre-packaged world-view delivered to them by biased salespeople rather than make their own is even sillier still.