Brainwashed ...

[StuartJ]

Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques.

Brainwashing is said to reduce its subjects ability to think critically or independently,[1] to allow the introduction of new, unwanted thoughts and ideas into the subjects mind,[2] as well as to change his or her attitudes, values, and beliefs.[3][4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing

Is this an accurate description of religion ...?

[Tart]

Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques.

Brainwashing is said to reduce its subjects ability to think critically or independently,[1] to allow the introduction of new, unwanted thoughts and ideas into the subjects mind,[2] as well as to change his or her attitudes, values, and beliefs.[3][4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing

Is this an accurate description of religion ...?

Is it an accurate description of atheism?

Who is brainwashing atheists and how are they doing it?

I think 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 give an accurate explanation of it.

10 Those who are lost in sin will be fooled by the things he can do. They are lost in sin because they did not love the truth that would save them. 11 For this reason, God will allow them to follow false teaching so they will believe a lie.

It is a suppression of the truth... They are suppressing the truth, in the spirit of falsehood... And in reality, we should be very cautious of this spirit, which God warns about in the Epistles of John... In fact, i think i should be cautious in speaking about this with anyone... They dont understand it becuase they are blind... Ill allow you guys to continue in your nonbelief, and sometimes its best without a word said... Perhaps at the right time, someone can open your eyes, but beware, your spirit is being judged and you dont even know it.

[Clownboat]

Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques.

Brainwashing is said to reduce its subjects ability to think critically or independently,[1] to allow the introduction of new, unwanted thoughts and ideas into the subjects mind,[2] as well as to change his or her attitudes, values, and beliefs.[3][4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing

Is this an accurate description of religion ...?

I think that is an accurate description of nonbelief...

I would love to hear why you feel this way.
Personally, I think you got hit hard in the feelings... Sorry about that, if that is the case.

I'm sure your well thought out responce and justification for your words will put that to bed though. Let's see.

Maybe you should try to slay us with irony about religious brainwashing by instead of using logic and reason to justify your words, you quote from your holy book. Certainly no evidence of brainwashing going on using that route.

[StuartJ]

[Replying to post 18 by rikuoamero]

How does someone being a (strong) atheist mean they are less likely to be brainwashed by a belief system?

Because we have actively examined the absence of evidence ...

And consciously and deliberately discarded the games of Pretend that are religions.

I/we apply that examination to anything requiring belief.

Other atheists just don't bother about what they call the bovine excrement of religions. They never examine - and don't care to. They recognise fantasy when they see it.

Believing in Communist ideals is at nowhere near the level of believing in the make-believe of religion.

I don't know of a single Communist who believed the universe was created by Marx ...

Or that Mao was sired by his local deity on a human virgin

Or that you are going to live forever in the bosom of Lenin if you are an undoubting follower of the ideals.

[Clownboat]

Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques.

Brainwashing is said to reduce its subjects ability to think critically or independently,[1] to allow the introduction of new, unwanted thoughts and ideas into the subjects mind,[2] as well as to change his or her attitudes, values, and beliefs.[3][4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing

Is this an accurate description of religion ...?

Is it an accurate description of atheism?

Who is brainwashing atheists and how are they doing it?

I think 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 give an accurate explanation of it.

10 Those who are lost in sin will be fooled by the things he can do. They are lost in sin because they did not love the truth that would save them. 11 For this reason, God will allow them to follow false teaching so they will believe a lie.

It is a suppression of the truth... They are suppressing the truth, in the spirit of falsehood... And in reality, we should be very cautious of this spirit, which God warns about in the Epistles of John... In fact, i think i should be cautious in speaking about this with anyone... They dont understand it becuase they are blind... Ill allow you guys to continue in your nonbelief, and sometimes its best without a word said... Perhaps at the right time, someone can open your eyes, but beware, your spirit is being judged and you dont even know it.

As I suspected and feared!
No thoughts of your own to justify your words.

Just religious promotional material. You're not defending against the OP question very well it would seem.
Could this be a form of self indoctrination perhaps? (Instead of a person having their own thoughts/critical thinking, they are to refer to religious promotional material for explanations)?

Perhaps you can throw this back in my face and show similar behavior from atheists? You did claim that you think the OP is an accurate description of non-belief after all.

[Tart]

Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques.

Brainwashing is said to reduce its subjects ability to think critically or independently,[1] to allow the introduction of new, unwanted thoughts and ideas into the subjects mind,[2] as well as to change his or her attitudes, values, and beliefs.[3][4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing

Is this an accurate description of religion ...?

Is it an accurate description of atheism?

Who is brainwashing atheists and how are they doing it?

I think 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 give an accurate explanation of it.

10 Those who are lost in sin will be fooled by the things he can do. They are lost in sin because they did not love the truth that would save them. 11 For this reason, God will allow them to follow false teaching so they will believe a lie.

It is a suppression of the truth... They are suppressing the truth, in the spirit of falsehood... And in reality, we should be very cautious of this spirit, which God warns about in the Epistles of John... In fact, i think i should be cautious in speaking about this with anyone... They dont understand it becuase they are blind... Ill allow you guys to continue in your nonbelief, and sometimes its best without a word said... Perhaps at the right time, someone can open your eyes, but beware, your spirit is being judged and you dont even know it.

As I suspected and feared!
No thoughts of your own to justify your words.

Just religious promotional material. You're not defending against the OP question very well it would seem.
Could this be a form of self indoctrination perhaps? (Instead of a person having their own thoughts/critical thinking, they are to refer to religious promotional material for explanations)?

Perhaps you can throw this back in my face and show similar behavior from atheists? You did claim that you think the OP is an accurate description of non-belief after all.

Kind of crazy that people suggest that because you reference something, you dont have your own thoughts and cant think critically....

Its that dang college education of mine kicking in, actually referencing something.... The cons of being educated...

Actually, you want some of my thoughts on the subject? Having a foundation for truth and knowledge is a good thing.. Yes, we can actually reference things. We can point to truth, that exists beyond our own thoughts... Something that provides a foundation for all wisdom and knowledge, like purpose, truth, righteousness, law, relationship, spirit, physics, rational thought, logic, logos, faith, goodness, love... We have a valid foundation for these things, and its a good thing we have a valid foundation.. Not a bad thing..


Let me ask you, you are an atheist, right?

Do you have any good reasoning or evidence you can point to to provide justification that atheism is valid and true? Like any good positive evidence will do....

How would you convince anyone like me, atheism is true and its not just you believing in nothing?

[StuartJ]

[Replying to post 25 by Tart]

How would you convince anyone like me, atheism is true and its not just you believing in nothing?

For the n+1th time ...

Atheism is NOT a belief in nothing

Atheism is a LACK of belief in gods.

Please DO try to learn this VERY SIMPLE concept.

[Tart]

[Replying to post 26 by StuartJ]

Ok so you have no justification atheism is accurate and correct?

If i said "i lack a belief in gravity", and someone responded "you dont believe in gravity?"... Its the same dang thing... In that case no one would have a problem with the semantics of this statement... Its annoying to make such a big deal about it...

[rikuoamero]

[Replying to post 18 by rikuoamero]

How does someone being a (strong) atheist mean they are less likely to be brainwashed by a belief system?

Because we have actively examined the absence of evidence ...

And consciously and deliberately discarded the games of Pretend that are religions.

I/we apply that examination to anything requiring belief.

Other atheists just don't bother about what they call the bovine excrement of religions. They never examine - and don't care to. They recognise fantasy when they see it.

Believing in Communist ideals is at nowhere near the level of believing in the make-believe of religion.

I don't know of a single Communist who believed the universe was created by Marx ...

Or that Mao was sired by his local deity on a human virgin

Or that you are going to live forever in the bosom of Lenin if you are an undoubting follower of the ideals.

Might want to look into North Korea then. From what I hear, the government practices (or attempts to at the very least) a variant of communism called Juche, and the Kim family is practically worshipped, with many claims floating around like the previous leader, Kim Jong Il having scored twenty holes in one in a single round of golf. Or try these out
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/g ... 2e92c9309a

Kims father, Kim Jong-il, was supposed to have been born on Mount Paektu, believed to be a sacred spot where the divine founder of the first Korean kingdom, a bear-man named Tangun, was born more than 4000 years ago. The birth of Kim Jong-il, also known as the Dear Leader (his father, Kim Il-sung, was the Great Leader), turned winter into spring and was illuminated by a bright star in heaven.

Communism and hero worship go hand in hand. Che Guevara is a literal icon.

[StuartJ]

[Replying to post 28 by rikuoamero]

Yes ...

I/We capital-A Atheists certainly wouldn't swallow that.

[RedEye]

Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques.

Brainwashing is said to reduce its subjects ability to think critically or independently,[1] to allow the introduction of new, unwanted thoughts and ideas into the subjects mind,[2] as well as to change his or her attitudes, values, and beliefs.[3][4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing

Is this an accurate description of religion ...?

Is it an accurate description of atheism?

Who is brainwashing atheists and how are they doing it?

I think 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 give an accurate explanation of it.

10 Those who are lost in sin will be fooled by the things he can do. They are lost in sin because they did not love the truth that would save them. 11 For this reason, God will allow them to follow false teaching so they will believe a lie.

It is a suppression of the truth... They are suppressing the truth, in the spirit of falsehood... And in reality, we should be very cautious of this spirit, which God warns about in the Epistles of John... In fact, i think i should be cautious in speaking about this with anyone... They dont understand it becuase they are blind... Ill allow you guys to continue in your nonbelief, and sometimes its best without a word said... Perhaps at the right time, someone can open your eyes, but beware, your spirit is being judged and you dont even know it.

Firstly, accusing atheists of being "lost in sin", "truth suppressors" and "blind" is a kind of bigotry and may constitute a personal attack. You can't generalize in that way about any group of people. Secondly, none of what you have posted relates in any way to brainwashing. My question remains unanswered.