[/QUOTE]AfterGlow:
Without religion, the world would probably be a place of chaos and death, kinda like without laws. Brainwashing is seen in EVERYTHING. We have
ALL been brainwashed one way or another, that's just fact.
[/QUOTE]
I'll agree with you that everything in this world is some mild form of brainwash, but not in the way CHURCH is. Church tries to define the way someone should live their lives, and condemn them to heaven or hell based on the choices they make. Now in a world and country supposedly all about freedom..whats free about one group of people dictating what decisions are heaven worthy, and which are not? In other forms of a brainwash ( like a hugely popular tv show or musical artist, not the best examples but you get my point)you have a choice whether or not to follow, watch or listen despite the way you choose to live, while religion JUDGES you as a person and includes or excludes based on what you do, and that is the difference.
What makes someone religious all high and mighty and gives them the authority to judge people when they in fact live throughout their existences based on the judgement of a supposed higher power, or by the thoughts of others, which I might add theres is no evidence that the bible and jesus christ are even Plausible facts in history.
Now I'm not trying to offend people or change beliefs, I just saying the whole religion thing is a bit hypocritical, and is established by world governments in order to try and manipulate people into living by the ideals that they want. You can believe what you want, but I'm just saying its a cold dark world out there and you shouldnt believe in everything you hear, read or see, because one day youll realize you missed out on life because you chose to live the way someone else THINKS you should have...