A question for those who were raised Catholic

[Joan_of_Bark]

You are wrong about the “balanced exposure to other religions” because the Catholic Church has many times stated that there are many truths to be found in other religions, however obscure. Sometimes a heresy is just a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate one. We have many customs and practices from many other religions (however, I would imagine atheism to not fall into this category) including paganism and Buddhism. There is exposure here, just not the exposure you are looking for.

But as the catechism states, anyone who is not a member of the capital-C Church cannot be saved, so the fact that there are ‘many truths’ in those other religions doesn’t count for much, does it?

QUOTE=GreggAlvarez;6892547]
You are right about one thing though: Catholics are no different in raising their children but only as far as believing what they know to be Truth, but as other people here have mentioned, every single duet of parents falls into this category. They teach this to their children because they believe it to be Truth. But unfortunately, modernist education does not teach the students to search for Truth for themselves. (Teachers that teach this are very very rare). Modern education is the culprit that is brainwashing the students with facts and figures and completely obliterating, if not nullifying, even the idea of imagining (as opposed to imaginary), wondering and creating which are capstones to Christianity.

Funny, but I started to think about the “bigger picture” a lot more after getting a liberal (in the classical sense of the word) education.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

I was brainwashed to respect women, not to use violence to solve conflict, to not take things that didn’t belonged to me, to love without requirements, to enjoy learning, to be respectful to others regardless of their age or class, and the proper management of money. Those darn parents, brainwashin’ me

Brainwashed is a poorly chosen phrase, it is not a fair term because it has an automatic negative connotation to it.

Is it only Catholicism that teaches those things?

But I will concede your point that brainwashing is an overly pejorative term. I was trying to provoke a strong reaction, and I certainly got that.

From now on I will refer to it as ‘indoctrinating’.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

Dear Joan of Bark,

I was a cradle Catholic that drifted for almost 30 years. I have seen most of it and lived poorly without God in my life. I had success and didn’t enjoy it, I could not fill some void in my life.

When the time is right you will open your heart and mind and answer the door in which Jesus knocks. For right now you think you have all the answers.

Could you be more presumptious? Where do I say I have all the answers?

Oh, it’s too late for me. I’ve blasphemed the holy spirit, so you know what that means.

When I got to that point I ripped the door off the hinges and invited Jesus and the entire Communion of Saints into my home. I will pray, beg and cry or whatever I have to do each day to keep them in my heart and soul for the rest of my life. I feel much better with God than without Him.

To each his own. Sincerity does not equal truth.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

I wasn’t raised Catholic so I don’t know if I am welcome to answer this, but anyway. I think this whole idea of whatever you are trying to get at is pointless. Any parent ultimately indoctrinates(or attempts to) their children with their worldview. Even an agnostic teaches their children their ideas, what else would they teach them, something they didn’t believe? I can’t speak for anyone else, and this wasn’t directed at me, but I wouldn’t expect a JW or a Muslim to raise their children as anything other than a JW or a Muslim - it would actually be inconsistent and absurd of them not to. I was raised protestant and believed for the most part what I was taught. I am glad I was raised with my parents beliefs as it forced me to be more responsible about choosing to convert. I think there is a misconception here too, maybe in some cases this is true, but I don’t think most religious people raise their children without giving them some idea (at least to the best of their knowledge) about what other people believe. It is almost necessary to do this, just to understand ones own beliefs.

Most people believe what they believe, why should we expect them to act like they don’t? If a Muslim is right, everyone who is not Muslim is wrong. So what. I don’t expect a Muslim or a non-religious person to profess Catholicism - obviously.

You asked a peculiar question in your first post.

The last part is interesting, if we believe that when they become free-willed adults will they carefully consider which religion is true. The thing is, it doesn’t matter what we believe they will do - the truth is they ought to do it. Every person is responsible to thoughtfully consider these things to the best they are able, regardless of how they were raised. You would probably be right if you said most people don’t, but that only makes them guilty of negligence, it doesn’t free them of that responsibility.

This is the best answer so far, but then, you weren’t raised Catholic, so it’s not surprising you would have a broader view. (Love your music, by the way).

 

[Hislittlelady]

Have you ever considered that you may have been brainwashed?

Consider the fact that children raised in Saudi Arabia become … Muslims. Those raised in most of India become Hindus. Children raised by practicing Jews in Israel tend to become practicing Jews. And kids raised by evangelical Protestants usually turn out to be Protestants. Why do you suppose this is? Do you believe that upon becoming free-willed adults they carefully consider all religious creeds and come to the conclusion that (fill in the blank) is really the best and truest religion?

Of course not. We can see that they’ve merely been indoctrinated into their religious creed without the benefit of a balanced exposure to other religions. So are you really any different?

Now you may have been raised in the west, where a more pluralistic society prevails. Certainly while growing up you would have encountered other religious sects. But is a child who goes to a Catholic school five days a week, and to mass every week, and has Catholic parents and relatives, really any different than a Saudi Muslim – except in the degree of the indoctrination?

Look at it another way. If you had children, would you take them to a Jewish synagogue, a Muslim mosque, a Protestant church, and a Hindu temple – as well as a Catholic church – and say to them: “Okay, my child, it’s now up to you to decide which of these religions – if any – is the true one”?

If you answer ‘no’ to this question, perhaps you can begin to see where the question at the top of this post comes from.

Joan, I can fully understand what you’re saying here. I’ll share with you my best explanation. Even if it’s considered brainwashing by some, big deal! So what! The fact is that all Catholic/Christians have followed thousands of years of teachings. These teachings are based on the written word, scriptures that were found, scrolls and teachings by Christ himself that were written down. After much study of the Christian religion, now we’re down to deciding which is the right one. Catholic or Protestant? It’s all based on faith. I personally completely believe in the Catholic doctrine because I have the faith that it comes directly from the apostolic succession which is from the original apostles. did they lie? I don’t think so! I hope not. Ask me do I believe in a statue of a big fat man sitting in the lotus position, do I believe is statues of weird looking idols with a thousand arms, do I believe in a God who tells us to kill and my answer is very simple. A big fat ‘NO’. My faith tells me this is all wrong. I have read the complete volume of the Catechism of the Catholic church and every word spoke to me of truth, with the exception of a few things which did not sit well with me. But that’s another topic. The great majority of the Catechism spoke loudly to me. Praying to saints is very fine, but not for me. Praying to our Blessed Mother is also very fine, but I can’t seem to comprehend it even as Catholic as I am. I love our Lady, our beautiful Mother of God, and it’s a good thing to have a word or two with her, plus to honor her and hold her high on holy days dedicated to her, but my main focus is always Jesus, our King. He is the all in all. I simply cannot pray to another but Him. Just my own way I guess. If you’d like to know more about Catholicism, I strongly recommend the Catechism and the teachings therein. If you are not interested in Catholicism, I’d say study Christian literature in general and who knows where they will lead you or where you will find the truth. I found it in the Catholic Church. We must all be seekers of truth. I’m on my way. Praise God and his holy house of worship, the one holy apostolic Catholic Church. Amen.


Let me add one last footnote here. No matter what doctrine our parents have taught us, once we are adults, it is our responsibility to seek all truths. With deep sincerity and prayer, God will certainly lead us into the truth and will not let us stray.

---

 

[Hislittlelady]

Joan, I can fully understand what you’re saying here. I’ll share with you my best explanation. Even if it’s considered brainwashing by some, big deal! So what! The fact is that all Catholic/Christians have followed thousands of years of teachings. These teachings are based on the written word, scriptures that were found, scrolls and teachings by Christ himself that were written down. After much study of the Christian religion, now we’re down to deciding which is the right one. Catholic or Protestant? It’s all based on faith. I personally completely believe in the Catholic doctrine because I have the faith that it comes directly from the apostolic succession which is from the original apostles. did they lie? I don’t think so! I hope not. Ask me do I believe in a statue of a big fat man sitting in the lotus position, do I believe is statues of weird looking idols with a thousand arms, do I believe in a God who tells us to kill and my answer is very simple. A big fat ‘NO’. My faith tells me this is all wrong. I have read the complete volume of the Catechism of the Catholic church and every word spoke to me of truth, with the exception of a few things which did not sit well with me. But that’s another topic. The great majority of the Catechism spoke loudly to me. Praying to saints is very fine, but not for me. Praying to our Blessed Mother is also very fine, but I can’t seem to comprehend it even as Catholic as I am. I love our Lady, our beautiful Mother of God, and it’s a good thing to have a word or two with her, plus to honor her and hold her high on holy days dedicated to her, but my main focus is always Jesus, our King. He is the all in all. I simply cannot pray to another but Him. Just my own way I guess. If you’d like to know more about Catholicism, I strongly recommend the Catechism and the teachings therein. If you are not interested in Catholicism, I’d say study Christian literature in general and who knows where they will lead you or where you will find the truth. I found it in the Catholic Church. We must all be seekers of truth. I’m on my way. Praise God and his holy house of worship, the one holy apostolic Catholic Church. Amen.

Let me add one last footnote here. No matter what doctrine our parents have taught us, once we are adults, it is our responsibility to seek all truths. With deep sincerity and prayer, God will certainly lead us into the truth and will not let us stray.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

I was raised Catholic and raised well at that. My father and mother both lived good Catholic lives. But in my case, I wouldn’t say I was brainwashed. For me, it was the power of the Christian faith that convinced me Christianity was true (not Catholicism only, but Christianity in general; although I knew very little about Christianity other than Catholicism).

I have seen people being touched by the power of God, lives transformed, exorcisms performed, miracles take place, etc.

Funny how these things never seem to occur in front of non-Christians.

Obviously I don’t believe in exorcisms (and neither do protestants, who constitute a large portion of Christianity).

If it had not been for these, then I would have probably become an atheist. No other religion even claimed to do these kinds of signs. When was the last time you heard that a lame person was healed in a Muslim prayer service, or a blind person being healed in a Hindu prayer service, or a demon being driven out of one in a Buddhist prayer service. I haven’t even heard of a single such occurence.

Nor do I believe in faith healing, which has been debunked by James Randi, among others. And demons? Oh, please …

 

[Tantum_ergo]

But as the catechism states, anyone who is not a member of the capital-C Church cannot be saved, so the fact that there are ‘many truths’ in those other religions doesn’t count for much, does it?

That’s not what the Catechism says, Joan. **Outside the Church there is no salvation" **

846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.336

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.337
848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."338

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

Well, to answer the question: “really any different than a Saudi Muslim --” In my limited view, most little Catholic kiddies don’t want to finance terrorism or chop non-Catholic heads off because they’re non-Catholics.

Most Muslims don’t want to do those things, either. I do note, however, that Christians willingly purchase Saudi crude oil.

Further, I don’t think you have much to fear in this regard, the state of catechesis in most Catholic schools is so abysmal that it couldn’t convince anyone of anything.

That’s an interesting comment. I’ll take your word for it.

If one is an Evangelical and you tell them “Baptism now saves you.” you will be greated by a firm denial that Baptism does anything. But that’s not what the Bible says. Is the Evangelical brainwashed?

Maybe. On a protestant board I would certainly ask that question.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

You obviously have a limited view of psychology.
The human brain is a very complicated machine and cannot be as easily manipulated as you imply. The question stems from the opinion that those who are ‘brainwashed’ have low IQs. IOW, it’s a question based on a sterotype painted in your own mind. To which I ask:
Have you ever considered that you are not as superior as your question implies.

I don’t think I’m superior, because I never believed that only those with a low IQ could be brainwashed. I’m sure it would work on anyone of any intelligence.

But I have apologized for using such a loaded term.

 

[antroji]

@ JRRTFAN, etc: Such a statement as “Well, to answer the question: “really any different than a Saudi Muslim --” In my limited view, most little Catholic kiddies don’t want to finance terrorism or chop non-Catholic heads off because they’re non-Catholics. Have you found a different scanario in your town?” demonstrates reactivity more thatn it does critical reading and thought. The OP’s question seems far less pointed at the comparative correctness of any religion than at the phenomenon of habituation by association. One can expect that if the sins of the father are handed down to the third and fourth generation that such a dynamic is applicable to any handing down of any demeritorius or of any good behaviors. (Help! I’m acting my own mother! )

The OP simply asks why this is so and given that it is, have individuals thus raised actually made a choice, whether they are Catholic, Muslim, Pocomaniac, Christadelphian, Shintoist, or whatever. There are upwards of 700. Take your choice. The question boils down to: “Do we as Catholics acquire our Faith in any way signifficantly different from how anyone else does or ever has?” Can we sincerely and impartially answere that question without running it through our already Catholicly habituated mind sets? I wonder. My opinion is “no.” We will perforce use the criteria we grew up with to assess any system different form our own, as will a member of any other belief system.

So, putting aside our conviction of moral certainty, is our way of learning our Faith in any way significantly distinguishable from how anyone absorbs their faith, social mores, political views, cultural habits, food tastes, etc, etc.

It is a simple question. How do you answer it?

BTW, this is interesting.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

What about you? Don’t you think that each of us are all “brainwashed” by this society? People tell us that sex outside of marriage is good as long as you have a condom, and every religions has truth.

I always find it funny that Christians are so obsessed with adultery, while ignoring another of the Ten Commandments – the one about not working on the sabbath (Seventh Day Adventists excepting). But that’s off-topic.

We pretty much are being brainwashed by humanism and secularism itself, don’t you think?

No, because the majority of people in America are Christians, while a growing minority are theists of other stripes. If humanism and secularism are really have such an impact under a Christian majority, maybe it speaks to the power of their arguments.

And no, I chose to become a Catholic, I was a Protestant but now I’m a Catholic, it seem to be that my parents had failed to “brainwashed” me didn’t they?

I didn’t say it was universal.

Just because someone is called a child doesn’t mean he/she is not interested in religion, who said that?

Not me. But a child becomes interested in the religion of it’s parents.

Plus, don’t you think when the child come to the age of consent, he/she can’t choose? Remember, America is not Saudi Arabia, we have freedom of religion.

Yes, the child can choose, as we both did. But childhood indoctrination is often difficult to overcome. Not impossible, just difficult.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

If you’d like to know more about Catholicism, I strongly recommend the Catechism and the teachings therein. If you are not interested in Catholicism, I’d say study Christian literature in general and who knows where they will lead you or where you will find the truth. I found it in the Catholic Church. We must all be seekers of truth. I’m on my way. Praise God and his holy house of worship, the one holy apostolic Catholic Church. Amen.

I’ve actually studied Catholicism quite a bit, as I majored for two years in history and I focused on Medieval studies (my favourite prof was an expert on that time period). I’m reading the catechism now, and as I’ve already said, I’ve read the Bible many times. I find it vague, ambiguous and contradictory – more so every time I read it. But that’s also off-topic.

Let me add one last footnote here. No matter what doctrine our parents have taught us, once we are adults, it is our responsibility to seek all truths.

Agreed.

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

Joan of Bark;6894644:

But as the catechism states, anyone who is not a member of the capital-C Church cannot be saved, so the fact that there are ‘many truths’ in those other religions doesn’t count for much, does it?

That’s not what the Catechism says, Joan. **Outside the Church there is no salvation" **

846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.336

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, **do not know Christ and his Church: **
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.337
848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."338

Doesn’t the bolded part mean that someone who does know the church, and is familiar with the gospels, but who is not a part of the Catholic Church, cannot be saved? Does that not include practicing Jews, Muslims and protestants?

161 Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. "Since “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life

‘But he who endures to the end.’"

166 Faith is a personal act - the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. **But faith is not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. **You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith.

These passages seem to contradict the ones you cited.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Tantum ergo;6894775:

Doesn’t the bolded part mean that someone who does

know the church, and is familiar with the gospels, but who is not a part of the Catholic Church, cannot be saved? Does that not include practicing Jews, Muslims and protestants?

No, it doesn’t.

**Who belongs to the Catholic Church? **
[836](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/836.htm’) "All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God. . . . And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God’s grace to salvation."320
[837](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/837.htm’) "Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who - by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion - are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but ‘in body’ not ‘in heart.’"321
[838](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/838.htm’) "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist."324
**The Church and non-Christians **
[839](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/839.htm’) "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways."325
The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People,326 "the first to hear the Word of God."327 The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God’s revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews “belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ”,328 "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."329
[840](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/840.htm’) And when one considers the future, God’s People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus.

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day."330
[842](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/842.htm’) The Church’s bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race:
All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city. . .331

[843](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/843.htm’) The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."332 [844](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/844.htm’) In their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them:

 

[Joe_5859]

Just curious. What is foursquare? I spent 8 minutes trying to figure it out!!

foursquare.org/

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

Okay, Tantum, I haven’t finished the Catechism yet. I still think there’s a contradiction between what is stated in 161 / 166 and the paragraphs you cite. (I’ve added something to my last post). But I’m willing to concede that the Catholic church is heading to a more inclusive definition of “Church” than it used at the time of Unam Sanctam.

And now, I need to go to bed, as it’s getting late in Thailand.

 

[Joe_5859]

Of course. I question everything I’ve been told by society. I’m naturally skeptical that way.

Yes, exactly like society conditions you to be.

Being skeptical of society is itself something that society conditions us to be. It all goes back to the Enlightenment.

It is nearly impossible to root out all of the presuppositions and baggage that our culture hands down to us. We breathe it in like the invisible air and swim in it like the fish of the sea. Sometimes, when we think we are chucking the baggage, we’re really only trading it for a different set.

However, I was not raised in a secular society. I was raised Baptist in England in the '60’s. Everyone I knew believed in God. I went to church every Sunday. My school, although not a religious institution, forced us to pray at assembly and our teachers often taught Christianity. It was only after moving to Canada as a twelve-year-old that I started to have doubts, and passed through the stages from believer to doubter, to skeptic, to agnostic and eventually, in my 20’s, to atheism. And the more I study religion, the more convinced I am of my current beliefs (and yes, I have read the Bible – many times).

Ah, the Convert Syndrome. There is a natural tendency to think that if I used to believe in something, but no longer believe it, I must be more “objective” and more of a “critical thinker” than those who never made such a transition.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Of course. I question everything I’ve been told by society. I’m naturally skeptical that way.

However, I was not raised in a secular society. I was raised Baptist in England in the '60’s. Everyone I knew believed in God. I went to church every Sunday. My school, although not a religious institution, forced us to pray at assembly and our teachers often taught Christianity. It was only after moving to Canada as a twelve-year-old that I started to have doubts, and passed through the stages from believer to doubter, to skeptic, to agnostic and eventually, in my 20’s, to atheism. And the more I study religion, the more convinced I am of my current beliefs (and yes, I have read the Bible – many times).

I haven’t had time to read all the posts - sorry.

Are you saying that if you have doubts about a system that means you may have been brainwashed by that system and are managing to break out of the effects of the brainwashing? Are you saying that a brainwashed person will be able to find out if he/she is brainwashed via contemplation and study? I just want to be clear about your beliefs.

The truth is that if you have been brainwashed, whether by religious or secular systems, you won’t know. You could be brainwashed about religion, political systems, the history that is taught in our schools, science, and so on. So your question is really very silly.

 

[JimG]

Yes, I was brainwashed, and it’s still going on. Every day for hours at a time I was subjected to television, radio and every other kind of media which imprinted on me countless acts of violence, numerous murders, sex acts and innuendo too numerous to mention. Things which no parent would subject their kids to in real life. All of this (name removed by moderator)ut directly contradicted what my parents had tried to teach me about morals, character, value, honor, compassion, and discipline.

Nobody worried about this. It was fiction. It was entertainment. Entertainment doesn’t matter. But it matters to children, who spend their formative years busily imprinting every image that comes into their senses. Catholic schools don’t have a chance of competing with that kind of brainwashing.

But really, I wasn’t brainwashed too badly. I grew up in the age of “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best” media, and wasn’t subjected to the thousands of violent and sexual message which now universally permeate the media. Still, that kind of brainwashing continues, and affects even adults.

Michael Gurian, in his book “What Stories Does My Son Need?” recounts an incident told to him by a mother about her son’s experience with a violent video game:

“One night after playing the game, my 5 year old gave me his usual goodnight kiss, saying ‘Good night, Mom! I love you! See you in hell!’”

Apparently a phrase he picked up from the game. She tossed out the game.

Brainwashing abounds. Most of it is of the secular humanist variety.