Religious Indoctrination

Religious Indoctrination

Vs

Bible Study

A common expression that seems to have taken the church by storm is the phrase, "touch your neighbor and tell them".  What usually follows is a word or phrase that the speaker wish to plant in the subconscious of the listener.   This is defined as indoctrination in its most subtle form.

Bible study is to acquire knowledge on a subject. To fix the mind closely upon a subject; to dwell upon the subject in thought; to muse; to ponder.  No knowledge is implanted during the indoctrination process only an idea or concept  whose fruition is brought about by the hearer's desire to achieve the promised results. Indoctrination is effective in the military, especially when the desired effect is to get individuals to think and work together as a common group.   Part of the indoctrination process of soldiers is they are trained not to think as individuals, but to think as a group.

The technique of indoctrination has come full circle within the church, it has become an integral part of delivering an effective message.   In today's society, religious bodies and destructive cults use countless techniques to get its members to stay, commit themselves and take part in activities. The sum of these techniques constitutes what some people call "mind control." In the church it is known as "thought reform".   "Brainwashing" and "coercive persuasion" also comes into play and it involves the systematic breakdown of a person's will and replacing it with that of the speaker, group or organization.

Bible study allows a reader to ponder and search for answers, seeking outside direction and formulating an answer or a conclusion within his own mind based upon the knowledge ascertained.  This is the will of God.

The original concept of religious indoctrination referred to a process of imparting doctrine in an authoritative way, as in catechism. Most religious groups would instruct new members in the principles of the religion; that was based upon an overall view of the Bible.  The freedom of choice was not mitigated.  These instructions were not usually referred to as indoctrination by the religions themselves, in part because of the negative connotations the word had acquired. 

Religious indoctrination is not based upon scripture beliefs, nor does it requires a degree of faith. Indoctrination works because of a person's desire to be a part of a group or process.   Indoctrination has its place within a secular society and is an effective tool when used by motivational speakers.  When used in a spiritual setting indoctrination is destructive to the faith in God.  One of the earlier forms of indoctrination in the church was to preface the message with, "God said", or "God spoke to me."  The next step is to offer something Once you have established yourself as the messenger of God, no God fearing church member was going to stand up and say, "God didn't say that." This ploy has been used to separate many financial handicapped people from their last dollar because they believed they were acting according to God's will.   The ploy that never ceases to amaze the struggling Christian is when the preacher or missionary under the suppose anointing of God prophesies, "there is somebody in here that have a backache or headache and the Lord say come up here and get your healing."  Even in a crowd of a few this has proven to be an impressive act that even a drunk could pull of.  These acts are self-serving and is the root cause many people 'run' from the church.

Religious indoctrination is successful because it plays upon the gullibility of the religious mentality.  It is hard for a Christian to believe that a person would lie, especially in the church and concerning matters of God. Yet it is true, and some of the greatest lies are told in the church.  

Last Sunday a powerful message from God was delivered, according to the speaker.  The Bible verse was Deuteronomy 11:14,  That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.  The verse was read with deliberate pauses and reflections, and at the end of the reading the congregation was instructed to look at your neighbor and tell them, "This is my season."  No consideration was given to, who was talking, who was being talked to and what was the situation being addressed.  The indoctrination is effective if the listener can believe that good things are about to happen to them.  It was in the Bible and the congregation was asked to look at somebody and tell them, "This is your season."  They then was instructed to look up to Heaven and tell God, "Lord, send on the rain."

 The next verse that was read was Psalms 119:58  I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.  The indoctrination catechism was repeated for the key word "favor"  Now an emotional high engulf the listener, for this is their season of favor. Common sense, walked out of the door as the price of God's favors was outlined.

A young lady operating in her season of favor went to a car dealer and successful negotiated a high interest car loan and testified of the favors of God, while a person that we will refer to as a sinner was able to negotiate a loan at a very low interest rate.

To spiritualize and personalize the Word of God and attempt to apply it to all of life's situations is a blatant act of trivializing the Word of God and making it non-effect.

The Bible opens with the words, "In the beginning..." and ends with the book of Revelation which details God's promise of judgment.  The Bible depicts God's interaction with his creation.  The Bible tells what has happened, what is happening and what is going to happen.  

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Corinthians 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: