From: Kennita Watson (kwatson@netcom.com)
Date: Sat Dec 28 1996 - 11:34:15 MST
>Many religions have been propagated through force of the sword. In many
>cases this proved to be an effective technique. If religion is such a
>profoundly intertwined aspect of a person's being, how were so many
>countries and regions "converted" permanently and effectively simply by
>force, even if occupation was relatively transient? This seems to be
>inconsistent with the supposed nature of religion.
>
Look in your Psych 101 book (I recommend Zimbardo and Gerrig, _Psychology
and Life_, if you don't have one) under "cognitive dissonance" and
"dissonance reduction". Psych experts please pardon the oversimplification,
but: being placed in a situation about which they have a bad attitude but
over which they have no control creates cognitive dissonance in people, and
to reduce it they tend to change their attitudes (since they can't change
the situation).
How often have you heard "It's not so bad once you get used to it."?
And I imagine that if there are small children involved, the conversion
is effectively complete as soon as they are brainwashed (frighteningly
easy) and old enough to be role models for younger siblings. And
the parents get a double motivator for dissonance reduction because
they want to protect the children (a number of untoward things could
happen to a family whose child said to the wrong member of the
conquering force, "My mom says your religion is *evil*!").
Yes, some manage to escape, hide, dissemble, etc. I'm talking about
most people, who even if they have resources to do so don't know they do.
Scary stuff,
Kennita
Kennita Watson | The bond that links your true family is not one of blood,
kwatson@netcom.com| but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do
| members of the same family grow up under the same roof.
| -- Richard Bach, _Illusions_
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