how can it be so?

Ah yes...now I remember what I objected to.

It seems to me that you are implying here that all Christians are brainwashed. Which is not true.

People have poorly defended a lot of things in life. George Bush has poorly defended his reason for his pre-emptive war in Iraq. Many Christians have poorly defended the true gospel of Christ including Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and many literalist anti-intellectual Christians.

I've heard atheists poorly defend their reasons for that too.

So my point is: Christianity cannot be likened to a regime. Some people's ideas of it are and continue to be oppressive and destructive to love, justice and peace in this world. But not all Christians think that way.

 

All Christian orthodoxy is fostered by brainwashing that commences from early childhood and progresses from there. That is why the "intelligent design" theory is so important to the religious right ~ because the christian church has lost it's position of influence in the secondary and tertiary strands of education, and numbers have fallen as a result (because kids can think for themselves outside the influence regime ~ brainwashing ~ of the religion.
I would suggest that you take a good hard look at the majority rather than skirt the issue with the "not all christians" claim, difficult though that may be when you are immersed in it to some extent.
Below is a map of the religious right demographics of the USA. Deep moroon is dominant religious right, orange is substantialliy religious right, and beige is minority right. The USA now is a religious right fundamentalist political unit. That's a regime, just like communism & fascism, you've got religionism slithering behind the scenes in democracies.
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1995/11/stan_map.html

 

For sure you are correct when you say that the religious right has monopolized the popular face of Christianity (popular in the media) and Evangelical Christianity is the dominant mode of American Christianity.


I don't think that religious education should be mixed up in public education. However, I think it is a dangerous thing to completely not allow religion to be discussed in public schools. What happens when people graduate and know nothing about religion? They go on with understandings about Islam and Christianity, etc. from what they see on tv and THAT is very unfortunate. I think it would be good to have an academic class on world religions in high schools.

On that note, again, evolution and faith in God can and do go hand in hand for mainline Christian denominations (Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, UCC etc.). Of course, faith is not a textbook thing. It should be judged on a person to person basis. I know some well-read Evangelical Christians and some ignorant Episcopalians. So that's why I think it's illogical to say "Christianity starts with a system of brainwashing" or "All politicians are corrupt."

 

I'm all for the facts of religion being taught in schools. The problem is that in christianity, only the myth is taught.
Regarding evolution ~ I don't see what all the fuss and bother is about. The divine creator made evolution in the same way the he made birth-life-death-eternity. We ourselves evolve (develop) from two cells that grow (evolve) into the body mind complex that we are, and continue to do so until degeneration, then death. All part of the plan. Who gives a rat's if some bozo's don't want to see the way it really is? Not me!
If you really want to know what faith is, check out hebrews 11:1-3 ~ faith is the power of creation that exists within each and every one of us...."the substance of things not seen, the evidence of things yet to come." That's why JC said "I tell you ye are gods!" ~ because we have the creative power within us (the kingdom of god is within). It's up to us to use it or lose it. Chew that over molliebloom!

 

Your comment on the map is a generalization and a little misleading ...the note on the map says it's the demographic of the Republican party in the state...registered Republicans or elected officials? It doesn't say.

The rest of the post has some points I can't disagree with. They tried to brainwash me but it didn't work, even though it did leave residual effects.

 

Right on man. 100% with you.

And It's Molly; not Mollie. James Joyce's choice; not mine

 

REPLY cont.

Oops. I mean that I agree except for the part about Christianity being taught as a myth. I think that Christians should learn about all aspects of faith: social, historical, and spiritual facts and theories.

I don't really know why people are so obsessed with talking about creation and the end times either. There's an awful lot in the present time that needs dealing with.

 

Yep, it's a living thing that's happening within each and every one of us, but the christian religion would have you believe that it's a thing outisde of us, and that's why the real facts (history inclusive) are invariably obfuscated by the religion and it's apologists ~ because the truth will set you free, and they want people In the religion, not free of it's deceptional myth. And it is mythical, MollY, thats the truth they don't want you to know!
If you believe that prayers are answered by God ~ pray that he shows you the truth above all things, and pray that you will recognise it when it is shown to you. Then wait. It will surely be shown to you, then it is up to you to believe the truth that will set you free.

 

I believe that it's a demographic of individuals representing the known religious right through religion based political activism via the republicans. You can always follow the link and ask 'em.

 

Except Christianity teaches about the indwelling of the holy spirit in all things.

Wow, he said something right!