I was just talking with someone online that admitted she was attempting to brainwash her kids by taking them to Sunday School. I was pretty surprised that she so openly used that terminology. She defended this by saying it was for their good, and she asked me what harm there is in raising your kids by brainwashing them to follow your beliefs?
I was taken aback by such a question. Isn't the answer obvious? There is something wrong with attempting to brainwash children! In such a case, parents are teaching them what to think, not HOW to think. They are teaching them to just swallow what is put in front of them instead of being skeptical until all of the available evidence is looked over. They are teaching them to blindly follow rather than question. They are teaching their children to make decisions about an issue before investigating it and educating themselves on it.
One of the best gifts you can give your children that will help them to succeed and to truly benefit the world is the ability to think critically. Indeed, those who have had the greatest positive impact on our world shared this one quality.
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I think anyone who tries to "brainwash" their kids is probably pretty insecure about their beliefs. If they thought that their religion was supported by facts, why would they need to brainwash anyone into it? If religion were true, the best way to make someone believe it would be to teach them to think for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI have offered this argument as well. For example, parents that refuse to let their kids be exposed to the teaching of evolutionary theory, yet claim that evolutionary theory is ridiculous and has no evidence...if that's true, why are they afraid of their children learning about it? Wouldn't they expect their kids to see how ridiculous it is and that there's no evidence for it? The same goes with other things as well like other religions, etc. If their beliefs are clearly true, they shouldn't have to worry about whether their child is exposed to them or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't see why you are so surprised. Being a former fundamentalist and minister you must have been both brainwashed and a brainwasher at some points during your life. Wouldn't any form of training in Christian theology (especially when directed at children and the emotionally vulnerable) qualify as brainwashing? Maybe I need to better understand what distinguishes informing from educating from indoctrinating from brainwashing.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't so much surprised that she is brainwashing them that surprised me...just that she so easily admitted it and even used the word brainwashing. Most people justify it or rationalize it as "bringing them up in the ways of the Lord," etc. But, this woman flat out stated, "I am brainwashing my kids, but it's good for them."
ReplyDeleteI think it's possible to teach children Christian theology without brainwashing just as you can teach kids anything without brainwashing. I think the biggest component of brainwashing that occurs in fundamentalist churches is the manner in which many go so far out of their way to keep their children from being exposed to any other view point. Many are taught this IS the way it is, you MUST believe it, and they never let their children hear any other take, closely monitoring what is mentioned in the classroom (or sending them to a school that incorporates Christianity into all of their subjects), who their kids hang out with to ensure no view besides Christianity is mentioned in front of them, etc. When they're adults, many even encourage their kids to attend a fundamentalist college where the same views are taught.
It's actually not entirely uncommon for a child to reach the age of 21 without having ever even heard what other people believe or think and why. This is obviously far crossing over from educating to brainwashing...and I use the terms indoctrinating and brainwashing almost interchangeably.
"I am brainwashing my kids, but it's good for them."
ReplyDeletePerhaps she was engaging in hyperbole.
...the manner in which many go so far out of their way to keep their children from being exposed to any other view point...
I completely agree with your point here, at least as far is it concerns kids over a certain age or stage of development.
Is this the kind of environment you were raised in? Might you have come to a different view of things if you had been in a more intellectually open setting?
I was raised in a somewhat fundamentalist environment, so I can sympathize with you, having experienced many of the same attitudes. However, I was blessed to have moderating influences who were not afraid to let Christianity compete with other views. As I got older I sought out people and groups that encouraged questioning and intellectual and cultural engagement. Shaking one's faith can result in a great strengthening of one's faith, if you have the support. The kind of environment many fundamentalists live in does not provide this, unfortunately, and the result can be a complete repudiation of the faith. I've seen it many times personally. Hyper-fundamentalism is the most fertile breeding ground for atheism.
She was completely serious.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's necessary for one to have support at coming to the truth. The evidence can speak for itself. If one approaches the evidence and is open to whatever it suggests, even without the support of others, they should still come to a correct conclusion. This doesn't mean I am against helping each other or supporting each other...the journey can be much more enjoyable with it. But, the evidence alone should be enough to lead one to whatever the truth is.
And that is sad, Bob. Instead of listening to these people first, they pass judgment on a huge group of people they have never met.
ReplyDeleteI think some Christians may assume that atheists are out to convert the world because the Christians themselves want to make converts...so perhaps they think everyone else is trying to do the same thing.
The documentary "Jesus Camp" came to mind while reading your post Flubber.
ReplyDelete" Hyper-fundamentalism is the most fertile breeding ground for atheism."
@Laughing Boy - good point, but I think religion of any kind could possibly be a breeding ground. Many fundamentalists remain fundamentalists because of the lack of free intellectual conversations and questioning of religion. If they're never given the opportunity to question religion's logic, there's really no reason to NOT believe.
@Flubber - that makes some sense that Christians may assume atheists are out to convert because they are actively converting. Never looked at it like that. I wonder if it's just Christians who are actively converting or if all religions are?
Good question freehead...I do think that Christians are probably the primary "converting emphasis" group. You don't hear much about Buddhist missionaries traveling the world to convert people to Buddhism...or same goes with Islam, etc. Christians are out to get people to think like them...so, I would guess they assume other groups are out to do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised to see the use of the term "brainwashing" for religious teaching. That's an excellent term for it!
ReplyDelete...parents are teaching them what to think, not HOW to think.
Right. But even more than that, WHY is important, I feel.
A good blog, indeed :) Keep it up.