Monday, August 23, 2010
What are the differences between brainwashing and engaging the truth?
Well, I just dropped off my oldest kid, Will, at school for his first day of kindergarten and then came home to find this question waiting for me in my inbox. Interesting question that has lots of implications about reality, raising kids and how we come to know the truth. Some feel deceived that what was presented to them as truth when they were young (by parents, authorities figures, etc..) turned out to be flimsy or, in some cases, flat out untrue. While I don't believe the example in the question below fits that category, his point is worth discussing nevertheless...
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I have asked myself this question too. I don’t want my son to blindly accept what is presented to him just because it came from a 'trusted authority', on the other hand, we also expect our children to accept what is presented to them when it is for their own good (dont run out into the street, brush your teeth, etc). These examples may not really be on equal ground, but the concept remains the same – do as you are told because it is what’s best for you.
ReplyDeleteNow, to take this a different, more relevant direction: would a parent who is a devout atheist train their child to believe in God? More than likely, the answer would be a “no”. It wouldn’t make sense for a believer to train their child to NOT believe in God, either. These may seem like “yeah, duh” statements, but what happens when you train your child to believe in a certain worldview and never present to them that there are other ideas/philosophies/religions/views, etc? That is where the ‘brainwashing’ element I think comes accurately into play. Do Christian parents brainwash their kids? Do Atheist parents brainwash their kids? The answer lies in how that idea is presented over time. Healthy conversation with your kids as they become older, more mature, and more mentally able to understand the topic is what will create a healthy mindset and perspective in a growing maturing person.
As a Christian myself with a son, I want my child to have an upbringing that I never had. I did not ever attend church until I was in high school (and I thought it a big joke at the time). I will teach my son the beliefs of the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, etc. However, I don’t plan to force him to believe it when he has questions. Belief isn’t belief if it is forced
This is a good question, relevant to anyone who has children since no manual exists to instruct us on exactly how to raise them. It is something I have also thought about as a parent, so thank you for asking.
ReplyDeleteThere are many other stories to use similar to the above example, however. Do children really understand fact from fiction and the implications therein? How important is fact over truth, and should a distinction be made between them? I read "The Lord of the Rings" to my one-year-old right now (mostly for my own benefit), but I'm sure one of these days he'll get excited about pretending to be Aragorn (or perhaps, for a different example, Anakin Skywalker). While I watch him swinging his light-sabre on the lawn, I will use the adult word "pretending" to label his behavior; but in his mind he isn't pretending. He firmly believes he is Anakin Skywalker. Is his belief sound? Even though the story may be dubious to his parents, he holds it as an unquestionable fact while swinging his light-sabre. We know Skywalker is a fictive character since George Lucas can testify to his creation. We are, however, in doubt as to whether Jonah actually spent time in a whale. Often, however, what truth the story conveys is more important than what facts make up the story. Jonah learned not to run from his fears while in the belly of the whale. Is that such a bad thing for a child to learn, too?
Another thing to consider is what we mean exactly by brainwashing. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "the systematic and often forcible elimination from a person's mind of all established ideas, esp. political ones, so that another set of ideas may take their place; this process regarded as a kind of coercive conversion practiced by certain totalitarian states on political dissidents." The word dates back to the 1950's McCarthy era (hint-hint). Under this definition, the word probably should not be used in reference to children, who, presumeably, have not yet developed "established ideas" about God, metaphysics, politics, etc. It also should not specifically refer to Christianity per se, since we could also imagine a college freshman who was raised in a fundamentalist, sheltered, backwoods Christian home and who leaves those beliefs behind in favor of the Darwinist, athiestic humanism (for example) of his college experience: the secular university thus "brainwashing" the religious fundamentalist. The term "brainwashing," in which a person is coerced into eliminating one set of beliefs and forcefully fed another, often gets confused with "conversion" which is a process of changing from one belief to another by an exercise of free will.
I really like the statement Anonymous made above: "The answer lies in how that idea is presented over time. Healthy conversation with your kids as they become older, more mature, and more mentally able to understand the topic is what will create a healthy mindset and perspective in a growing maturing person." We hardly ever form our "established ideas" through an act of coercion. Usually it is the result of a process of reasoning as well as existing within a community of people who believe in that particular idea. I think sooner or later, if I've at least helped to teach him to think a little, my son will begin to question the beliefs he thought were his own (but actually belonged to his mother and I, his friends, etc.). When he does, so much of what he eventually believes will depend on his ability to reason appropriately and more importantly on the community around him at the time. Who is he talking to? Who does he ask for help in sorting out his thoughts? As a parent, I have absolutely no control over that particular aspect of his life. I can, however, be the kind of parent he would want to talk with. And in that discussion I would never force a belief onto him (otherwise he wouldn't want to talk to me anyway), but from my belief in Christ show him love, support, and an honest and open ear. That's about all I think I can do. I'll let you know in about twenty years whether or not it worked.
ReplyDeleteThe focus in my Christian upbringing was on belief. We had to believe in the historicity of all the Bible's stories because they brought us to the final conclusion that was repeated every sunday: Christians are the select group that get to receive eternal life. The Bible was always referenced as "God's holy, inspired and authoritative word." The Bible was factual in all ways. There kicker: we had absolutely no discussion of other schools of thought. (I hope that your households are different. It already sounds like they are.)
ReplyDeleteThere are reasons to think that this book is not inerrant and many people find these reasons compelling. I think it's an attempt to brainwash kids if we intentionally avoid conversations that challenge faith.
A myth can affect us to the degree that the concepts in the story apply to our lives. The myth's truth rests is its relevance, not its historical verification. So I agree with what you said Clint, "what truth the story conveys is more important than what facts make up the story." Loosing one's hold on the historicity of the Bible (a direct departure from faith in my family) may turn some of the stories into very good myths that could have a lot of relevance to our lives today.
Thanks for your comments, Mr. Anonymous, Clint and Brian.
ReplyDeleteBrainwashing, like a good car wash, assumes there is only one reality and power-blasts all other options into oblivion until the one true color emerges. Yet, our kids aren't cars, they're people with brains who are slowing forming their own view of the world. And, as parents, our understanding of reality ( whatever it is) rubs up against other competing 'realities' daily, even hourly. As such, to only present one system of truth to my sons without also walking them thru the diverse marketplace of ideas seems to be setting them up for failure.
The interesting part of this though, for me, is realizing how gospel actually compares to other systems of belief "out there". It answers all the hard questions of life in a far more compelling way than any other system I know of. So hopefully the fear I feel in raising my kids and letting them explore other beliefs and think for themselves is eased by the truth that that the best option for them, in the end, will be found the loving arms of the savior (Luke 15). While I am acutely aware of the fact that there are no promises that my kids will believe in what I think is the truth - which, to be honest, scares the hell out of me - there is comfort that the gospel has lasted the test of time and will be there for them long after I am out of the picture....
also, about jonah. there is some confusion amongst sholartypes regarding the genre of jona. is it parable? if so the story itself is totally made up to teach a lesson. is it allegory? if so then it has a similar approach to historical issues as if it were a parable. is it prophetic narrative? if so it is presented as historical in nature and Jonah is intended to be lined up next to other historical figure in Israel's history such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc..in my purely cursory look at it (about 10 minutes of looking at it) it seems to fit the later genre.
ReplyDeleteAny Old Testament Professors out there want to help us out and drop some knowledge bombs on this discussion?
I am a husband of one and a father of nine who would like to weigh in on this question.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to clarify the semantics. A young child can be indoctrinated but I do not think they can be brainwashed. Brainwashing would involve the attempted removal of a conviction from someone while simultaneously trying to replace that conviction with a competing system of thought.
Children arrive on the scene with nothing in their brains from which to be washed (this statement is not meant to deny the truth of Original Sin). Parents of young ones cannot brainwash them...however,they are to be about "brain-filling" them.
One of the frightening responsibilities of being a father is the thought that I have been entrusted with the duty of shaping the life of a human being. That body/soul unit, which has been made in the image of God, has such great potential of mind, emotion and will...and I will be held accountable for how I mold this remarkable creation.
Children are a unique blend of their parents, but they are not carbon copies. Parents will naturally try to inculcate their own opinions into their offspring. But in doing so they must keep in mind that their children are not their clones. Parents are to aid these individual beings while they are in the process of "becoming". "Becoming" your own person is a formative process in which the parents play a big role.
In trying to form my childrens thinking I am comfortable with using a variety of means. Exposure to different worldviews in literature, media and life is inevitable; so I want to be part of the exposure process. Part of a partents job is to teach their kids how to think. I do not want to shelter my kids from the world...I want to teach them how to live in it without being assimilated by it, and also how to think about it critically.
For example; we are a Christian family with strong convictions about religion and morals, but we do not hide behind a "right-wing" curtain. We had a Muslim family over for dinner recently and thoroughly enjoyed learning about our differences. I invite the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormans into my house and want my kids to hear what they have to say. We have friends that are homosexual and lesbian that have dropped by to say hi to our children.
Now...Do I allow my family to be exposed to other religions because I think that they are on equal footing with Christianity? Do I teach my boys and girls that sodomy is just another alternative lifestyle that is as good as the natural way? Certainly not! But I also do not hide the existance of other faiths and mores from from their view.
I have the responsibility to teach discernment is the marketplace of morals and ideas. As a father I am activly inculcating my children about the exclusivity of Christ and His claims. I teach them that sexuality can be "straight" or "crooked" and that God defines those parameters. But, I want to teach these truths to my offspring with their eyes wide open.
I would suggest that everyone has been indoctrinated with something and we all are given "convictions" by someone else. But eventually, like the guy in "Matrix", we take the pill and begin to question our reality. As children mature they begin to ratify THIER convictions. All kids ask the "why" questions and parents try to answer them. When the kid grows up and begins to answer his questions for himself...and comes up with different answers than his parents...why throw rocks at the attempted dogma? Why not marvel in the individuality of a unique creation?
more on the issue of "truth" later
Thanks, Tim, for you thoughts on this. And, I know you do have 9 kids because you are the first person to post something before 6am! I really appreciate your intentionality in exposing your kids to other beliefs/lifestyles - another important aspect of doing this is not just the benefit to your kids ideologically but also, and perhaps more importantly, to showcase for them real love and compassion to those with whom you disagree.
ReplyDeleteNow, to the question of TRUTH. During his interrogation of Jesus, Pilate asked Him a question. "what is truth?" That is a great question. But, if there is such a thing as truth...then should it be disseminated as TRUTH?
ReplyDeleteTo put it another way...Should parents lie to their children and tell them it is the truth? If the words: truth/lie, fact/fiction, science/theory, myth/history, story/account, makebelieve/reality, faith/sight etc. ....are used in their proper meaning, and the multitude of things in this world are properly categorized under the correct heading...then all is good and all is to be used in "brain-filling".
It is when: theory is classified as science, fact called fiction, myth mixed up with history, and lies are passed off as truth...that you have a problem. All parents have lied to their kids. Sometimes intentionally and sometimes ignorantly. The truth is that we are all liars and it is wrong to lie to our kids. It is also just as wrong for kids to grow up and not believe the truth.
So, what is truth and can truth be known? Leaving aside that question in the ultimate sense...what about the specific realm of Jonah? Is Jonah a myth or history? Whether it is debatable or not is irrelevant. Is it true, and is there a qualified authority on the matter?
I would say that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is such an authority. In Matthew 12:38ff, while chastising the people for not believing in Him, Jesus said that the men of Nineveh would stand up at the judgment and condemn them because the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah, while Jesus' generation rejected Him who was greater than Jonah.
The Lord Christ said that the citizens of Nineveh and Jonah were real people, with real preaching and real repenting and who are now waiting for real judgment.
Jesus also used Jonah's experience in the fish as an example of His own resurrection. "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (NIV)
Jesus knew something about miracles dealing with water and fish. He commanded the waves as well as walked upon them. He could multiply the loaves and fish to feed a multitude, or for His friends net, or just have one fish be caught which had the proper amount of tax money in its mouth. Oh yeah, He also raised Himself from the dead three days after He gave Himself up to be murdered. So...If He can do all that I don't see why He couldn't retrieve His wayward prophet by way of fish. By the way, where does it say that Jonah was alive and well? Maybe Jonah was resurrected after being dead in the fish...or maybe he just swoooooned?
Besides...what is the big deal about someone being eaten by a fish? Hasn't everyone seen "Jaws" and "Pinocchio"?
What is the truth regarding these matters? "Jaws" was a masterful job of moviemaking that created suspense. "Pinocchio" is a great makebelieve story. And Jonah?...Jonah is an historical narrative, the people and places of which have confirmed by history and archeology. The miraculous aspects of the account have their validity attested to by Jesus Christ and confirmed by His own resurrection which was a fulfillment of Jonah's type.
So...you tell me...If Jonah is portrayed as Jaws and Pinocchio is the "truth", then which parent has the long nose?
@ Tim: "Do I teach my boys and girls that sodomy is just another alternative lifestyle that is as good as the natural way? Certainly not!" "I teach them that sexuality can be "straight" or "crooked" and that God defines those parameters." Some pretty value laden semantics in there. Is God defining those parameters or are you? If homosexuality exists in consistent percentages across a species it would be by definition "natural". As for the use of "crooked" the pejorative implication is noted. God's blessing to you might be if one or more of your children turn out to be gay. In that case, I pray they will be the ones teaching you some lessons of humanity and humility.
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