Quote:
Quote by: Tycoon  The examples of brainwashing Aussie listed in the OP weren't just things that happen when the church abuses its power. Many of those examples occur in everyday worship.
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Peer Pressure: This is just a regular event. Peer pressure stems from any situation involving groups of people. To discredit christianity as guilty of it is only to admit peer pressure exists in any situation. Counter Example: A sole girl who is christian goes to school far away to a very liberal college. She feels pressured into having sex, drug us, and joining in on religious jokes because she wants to fit in and make friends. Peer Pressure.
Confusing doctrine: Result of over a thousand years of human conflict and separation. I don't see where this is brainwashing. Interpretation of a book that has been translated and carried across longer than any well known literature always leaves room for disagreement. Again, just the result of human interpretation.
If your going to try that
"Well if God was perfect shouldn't all religion be clear and easy to understand" I leave, because thats not debate, its rhetorical personal opinions presented as a fact.
Dress Code: I responded to this. But let me ask this. If a christian high school requires a dress code and a private secular normal high school requires a dress code then why is only one brainwashing.
metacommunication: Are you kidding? And subliminal messaging isn't used everyday to sell cigarettes, booze, sex, and all number of other things? I see this point stemming again out of the atheist belief the religion is false, so hence any teaching of it is brainwashing.
love bombing: Widow support groups, youth peer ministries, youth retreat programs, etc. It's all appeal to kids and part of being a modern church in the 21st century. Creating its own christian social networks is not the work of brainwashing, its the result of christians having the desire to have their own religious groups and organizations based out of faith.
chanting or singing: Call it tradition. Does singing hail marys get you into heaven? No promises, but some people have the desire to do this. Most christians I know ENJOY the choir or singing or taking part in the liturgy.
confession: This is a staple of the faith. To confess away sins. Depending on who you ask you don't always need the priest and a both. That part is leftover tradition. Personally I think God knows when your repenting, and the booth just serves as a way to preserve some part of the past tradition. Plus its sometimes easier, the priest is skilled many times at guiding you through questions and being someone there to talk to.
Guilt: Another item from the stance of unbelief. Some christians believe in hell. If you sin you are putting yourself further from God, so there should be guilt associated. Guilt is present beyond religion as well, if you murder someone the guilt can eat at you. Secular organizations use the guilt of burning more gas by saying your supporting terrorism by using middle east oil.
Fear: Yet again: Stance of disbelief. Those who don't believe in hell of course naturally think its silly to fear it. Those who do believe should rightly so be afraid.
Financial commitments: There are plenty of churches out there that just get by or are run only off the will and hardwork of a local pastor who not only has to provide for himself, but attempt to provide something for all of his flock.
No questions: Well I've yet to meet a clergy member who didn't welcome debate or dialogue over faith. Of course I'm sure the world has plenty enough of the Phelps style absolute fundamentalist but I don't see where their presence discredits christianity as a whole.
Thats all I can toss together now. I'll return later to respond to the other questions if you want.