Quote:
Originally Posted by Sister Spooky
Very good point Esuna, but I think that even kids who were taught that there was no God have found Him in some form or another. I have known kids who were raised as Athiests and became Christian. I've known kids who were raised Catholic become Athiests. I think that even if you were put in a nuetral setting not being taught about God one way or the other, you would eventually think there was something bigger then you controlling the universe. Maybe, maybe not, I just believe that.
~Monica
|
I agree with this, and I'm a pretty good example of this.
I was raised with a strong Christian faith. We went to church every Sunday and participated in many church-related activities. This was mostly my Grandma's influence. (That's nothing negative, I adored her and I love her for instilling Christianity, the faith that I eventually found my way back to.)
When I was in my early to mid teens, I wasn't sure what to believe. I went through this...it wasn't just a phase, but that's the only word I can use to describe it...phrase of agnosticism. I didn't say God existed, but I didn't say He was non-existant either. I think really I was just torn because I had a hard time truly believing in God because it was a tough period for me. I figured that if I had any doubt at all that God existed, then I couldn't possibly truly believe anymore, but at the same time, I couldn't say that God was non-existant because I didn't know that for sure, so I considered myself agnostic for that time period
I eventually found my way back to Christianity, though. Things happened and I started to get my faith back. I think I started to take note of some of the smaller miracles in life and realize that there HAD to be something more, there just had to be. I did find my way back to God, and my bond with Him now I think is stronger than ever, although I do not attend church because I like to worship one-on-one...it makes it feel like a friendship to me, a personal relationship that way.
OK, to the point of this thread...I believe brain-washing really occurs when people are forced to go against beliefs that they had prior to becoming involved with any said group (like Brainy Smurf said). Like Brainy Smurf also said, it's when you're threatened with either Earthly or spiritual retaliation of some sort that it becomes more of a brain-washing deal and less pure spiritual conviction.
Just my $0.02.
