Indoctrination into a Church

[MoonGodde§§1968]

How do churches indoctrinate new people into their Churches to convince them to become "Born Again"?

I am, an agnositic atheist as is my husband. His brother over the past couple of years has become very involved in a church, and he is now an insufferable Born Again Christian. This is very unlike who he was before he became involved in this church. He travelled 60 miles last week to tell his brother (my husband) that he would "go to hell" if he didn't accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior...and become a Born Again Christian, as he is. He is "worried about" my husband's "soul". He wants to make sure my husband joins him in "Heaven". As you can imagine, this was not met with much interest. My brother in law then presumptiously stated, "I was once like you. I was searching and seeking answers". My husband, who is irritated at this point, stated to him that "what makes you think I am searching for anything? I am not searching. I am content with my beliefs (or, lack thereof, if you will)".

The conversations was tense, and although it ended on a civil note, it clearly wasn't satisfactory for either brother.

My question...what do these Churches do to so completely convert what was once a normal, rational, reasonable person, into a religious zealot? He is WEIRD...and almost glassy eyed. Downright strange. Do Churches seek out people that are easy to indoctrinate? how do they so completely transform a person? what methodology is used by modern-day churches. The church he attends is an evangelical, small church that he is taking "Life Groups"...and now TEACHING "Life Groups". He is so far gone, he is wanting to become an ordained minister for that church. I don't get it. I would like to understand how someone can be so susceptible to this. He now finds his church family to be more important than his real family, from his behavior and comments. Which, at this point is fine, because I wouldn't be nearly as kind if he started proselytyzing to me or my kids.

Any comments? answers? a way to deal with this?

Thanks, MoonGodde§§1968

[Burninglight]

How do churches indoctrinate new people into their Churches to convince them to become "Born Again"?

I am, an agnositic atheist as is my husband. His brother over the past couple of years has become very involved in a church, and he is now an insufferable Born Again Christian. This is very unlike who he was before he became involved in this church. He travelled 60 miles last week to tell his brother (my husband) that he would "go to hell" if he didn't accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior...and become a Born Again Christian, as he is. He is "worried about" my husband's "soul". He wants to make sure my husband joins him in "Heaven". As you can imagine, this was not met with much interest. My brother in law then presumptiously stated, "I was once like you. I was searching and seeking answers". My husband, who is irritated at this point, stated to him that "what makes you think I am searching for anything? I am not searching. I am content with my beliefs (or, lack thereof, if you will)".

The conversations was tense, and although it ended on a civil note, it clearly wasn't satisfactory for either brother.

My question...what do these Churches do to so completely convert what was once a normal, rational, reasonable person, into a religious zealot? He is WEIRD...and almost glassy eyed. Downright strange. Do Churches seek out people that are easy to indoctrinate? how do they so completely transform a person? what methodology is used by modern-day churches. The church he attends is an evangelical, small church that he is taking "Life Groups"...and now TEACHING "Life Groups". He is so far gone, he is wanting to become an ordained minister for that church. I don't get it. I would like to understand how someone can be so susceptible to this. He now finds his church family to be more important than his real family, from his behavior and comments. Which, at this point is fine, because I wouldn't be nearly as kind if he started proselytyzing to me or my kids.

Any comments? answers? a way to deal with this?

Thanks, MoonGodde§§1968

I hear you. Unfortunately many people get caught into cults that use mind control techniques and manipulation, but that doesn't seem like the case with your brother-in-law. It is written, "For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that perish, but unto us that are saved, it is the power of God." You see no one can choose to be "born again" unless God draws them, then they can make a choice.

Your brother-in-law was drawn by God and chose to accept His invitation; he didn't have to. Many are called but few are chosen, because few choose to be chosen. Until God draws you and you accept, none of this will ever make sense to you.

The Spiritual world is real friend. Like Bob Dylan sang: "You are gonna to have the serve somebody; it might be the Devil or it might be the Lord, but your gonna have to serve somebody" Just be thankful he is not a Mormon or a Jehovah Witness; they teach of a different Jesus than the Christ of the Bible. I would rather be a party freaking atheist then be one of them.

Jesus changes lives; he change mine. Why don't you ask the Lord to show you what your brother-in-law sees in Christ instead of asking on a forum that is conducive to answers that will only serve to lead you into more confusion regarding this matter?

It is written; "For God so loved the world that he gve is only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" Jn 3: 16. Judging from that verse alone, your brother-in-law made a wise decision.

Who cares about the temporary things of life that is so fleeting. Like Jesus said, "What good will it do you if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul?" I hope this helps you understand what might be going through your brother's head
Peace

[Burninglight]

How do churches indoctrinate new people into their Churches to convince them to become "Born Again"?

I am, an agnositic atheist as is my husband. His brother over the past couple of years has become very involved in a church, and he is now an insufferable Born Again Christian. This is very unlike who he was before he became involved in this church. He travelled 60 miles last week to tell his brother (my husband) that he would "go to hell" if he didn't accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior...and become a Born Again Christian, as he is. He is "worried about" my husband's "soul". He wants to make sure my husband joins him in "Heaven". As you can imagine, this was not met with much interest. My brother in law then presumptiously stated, "I was once like you. I was searching and seeking answers". My husband, who is irritated at this point, stated to him that "what makes you think I am searching for anything? I am not searching. I am content with my beliefs (or, lack thereof, if you will)".

The conversations was tense, and although it ended on a civil note, it clearly wasn't satisfactory for either brother.

My question...what do these Churches do to so completely convert what was once a normal, rational, reasonable person, into a religious zealot? He is WEIRD...and almost glassy eyed. Downright strange. Do Churches seek out people that are easy to indoctrinate? how do they so completely transform a person? what methodology is used by modern-day churches. The church he attends is an evangelical, small church that he is taking "Life Groups"...and now TEACHING "Life Groups". He is so far gone, he is wanting to become an ordained minister for that church. I don't get it. I would like to understand how someone can be so susceptible to this. He now finds his church family to be more important than his real family, from his behavior and comments. Which, at this point is fine, because I wouldn't be nearly as kind if he started proselytyzing to me or my kids.

Any comments? answers? a way to deal with this?

Thanks, MoonGodde§§1968

I am curious as to why your brother in law is not allowed to pursue a life that makes him happy without incurring judgement from his own family members. If you really love him and want the best for him, who don't you join him at his church some Sunday and see for yourself what he has been up to? I think you will find that churches are literally filled with joy filled people who love others and are seeking to live morally upright, meaningful lives with a purpose, with God at the center. What is so bad about that?

That is an excellent suggestion. My brother-in-law got caught into a cult, and I went a few times with him; that only served to convince me that he is in more danger than when he was doing his own thing, But I earned the right to talk to him about it, because I went there.

[Burninglight]

My brother-in-law is, in fact, free to pursue a life that makes him happy. HE is the one who drove 120 miles round trip to JUDGE my husband (his brother), our family, and even his parents (life-long Catholics), who he also JUDGES will be going to hell, as per his and his Church's beliefs. We did not go to him. We did not JUDGE him. We did not ask to be proseltyzed to. HE did not respect my husband's beliefs, when he knows full well what they are (not). I do not understand how you feel this is something we are doing to him. We respect his right to his religious beliefs. We did not ask for him to come down and tell us we are going to HELL if we do not believe as he does.

"If we really love him and want the best for him"...we must "join him at his church"? Why would we as non-believers be asked to do so? Would we ask him to go to a Free-thinkers meeting? He would see that it is literally filled with happy, well-adjusted people who love others and are seeking to live morally upright, meaningful lives with a purpose, with REASON and RATIONALITY at the center. What would be so bad about that? Nothing, other than we wouldn't disrespect his beliefs and would not expect him to believe as we do. We most certainly would never condemn a person for their beliefs.

His behavior, and behavior of other Born Again Christians that I have had to deal with (with the exception of one), has been so self-righteous and sanctimonious. So completely hypocritical it is very hard to take.

What has he accomplished by "spreading the Good News" other than to completely offend and distance his family. But, I am sure he feels otherwise. He likely presumes that as "God's Warrior", he will soldier on for Christ, never minding how his behavior affects others, or, how his behavior causes others to feel. As long as he is good with God and his church, I'm sure he figures he can do whatever he pleases and he is "saved".

I'm trying to be polite about it. I am struggling to understand how people think this behavior is alright?

I welcome feedback and thoughts and discussion.

Thanks for the responses I have received so far.

I wasn't trying to state that this is something that you are doing to your brother in law. I apologize if it came off that way. However, I would encourage you to not to frame this issue as something that he is doing to you, and not to take the attitude that he is judging you. I went through a similar situation during a period of time when I was an atheist. I ended up very offended at the family member (my Dad) who tried to witness to me (in a very similar manner from what happened your husband), and in the end it only created a lot of resentment and unforgivenss on my part. Now that I am a Christian, I can understand and even appreciate where he was coming from, even though he didn't choose the best method for approaching me.

As a Christian, I think I can offer you a translation of what might be happening (only knowing the situation from the surface). Your brother in law had an encounter with God that he led him to believe that God is real and that the Bible is true. In Christian circles, we meet people like this all of the time, and it is happening all over the world. There is a great deal of excitement when you are a new Christian. It's almost like that romantic giddy phase you experience when you are in a new relationship, but it's even better! I would guess that your brother in law has had this kind of revelation, and now he is eager to share this with the people in his life that he loves the most. But it's pretty difficult trying to find a way to present all of this information to people who do not believe in God, because there is this sense that they are either 1) not going to understand, or 2) not going to care. People stumble. They saw the wrong things. They do things for the wrong reasons. Your brother in law's methods, while they are obviously offensive and a bit suspect I will admit, actually come from a good place. I think it's important to recognize that.

I know it probably sounds weird to you as an atheist, but for the Christian, God is as real as the sun and the Bible clearly teaches that there will be consequences for rejecting him. Even if you don't believe that, your brother in law does. So you have several options as I see it:

1) Take the reactive approach by concluding that your brother in law is a nutjob and then avoid him, which will ultimately create a deep, long term divide in your relationship.

2) Taking the non-reactive approach by doing nothing, but then prepare yourself for future witnessing sessions, which will probably fan the fire of resentment you already feel.

3) Take the proactive approach. Instead of rejecting his beliefs, put aside your own convictions and consider his point of view. Instead of judging the church he attends, attend services with him one Sunday. Listen to his pastor. Meet some of his Christian friends. Go out to brunch afterwards and discuss the message, etc. The Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins. The sin in this scenario could be resolved by family members who are willing to love at all cost, despite the wrongdoing involved.

For what it is worth, I whole heartly agree!

[Yahu]

How do churches indoctrinate new people into their Churches to convince them to become "Born Again"?

I am, an agnositic atheist as is my husband. His brother over the past couple of years has become very involved in a church, and he is now an insufferable Born Again Christian. This is very unlike who he was before he became involved in this church. He travelled 60 miles last week to tell his brother (my husband) that he would "go to hell" if he didn't accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior...and become a Born Again Christian, as he is. He is "worried about" my husband's "soul". He wants to make sure my husband joins him in "Heaven". As you can imagine, this was not met with much interest. My brother in law then presumptiously stated, "I was once like you. I was searching and seeking answers". My husband, who is irritated at this point, stated to him that "what makes you think I am searching for anything? I am not searching. I am content with my beliefs (or, lack thereof, if you will)".

The conversations was tense, and although it ended on a civil note, it clearly wasn't satisfactory for either brother.

My question...what do these Churches do to so completely convert what was once a normal, rational, reasonable person, into a religious zealot? He is WEIRD...and almost glassy eyed. Downright strange. Do Churches seek out people that are easy to indoctrinate? how do they so completely transform a person? what methodology is used by modern-day churches. The church he attends is an evangelical, small church that he is taking "Life Groups"...and now TEACHING "Life Groups". He is so far gone, he is wanting to become an ordained minister for that church. I don't get it. I would like to understand how someone can be so susceptible to this. He now finds his church family to be more important than his real family, from his behavior and comments. Which, at this point is fine, because I wouldn't be nearly as kind if he started proselytyzing to me or my kids.

Any comments? answers? a way to deal with this?

Thanks, MoonGodde§§1968

I would have to assume he hasn't been a Christian very long. It is common for baby Christians to go about it the wrong way to try to bring loved ones into what they have found. If he just lived his new spiritual life happy in his new found faith, that would probably have been a better witness.

As far as how churches indoctrinate, well that would depend on the church and you are assuming that he hasn't had a life altering spiritual experience that changed him. Being born again is having the Holy Spirit to come and dwell within and it brings profound changes.

What I find funny is your handle is 'moon goddess' and that pagan deity is known for attacking any that try to follow the God of Creation. If you actually follow her, he isn't going to get very far without knowing advanced spiritual warfare.

Those that I have known involved in witchcraft via that goddesses worship required proof that the power of Yah exceeded the power of their witchcraft. Most of them ended up repenting and becoming Christians in prison if they lived through that conflict.