Thread: Is catholic school brainwashing?

I went to a catholic primary school, and I think that forcing beliefs on a child, who is not old enough to decide for themselves yet, is totally wrong, and yes, it is brainwashing.

Saying that, I'm a hardcore athiest, so it obviously doesn't work on everyone.

I think a much more serious problem is religious parents enforcing their religion on their children, because children look up to their parents a lot more than the authority at their school. Only 1 in 12 children stray from the religion of their parents (source: The God Delusion).

No, I didn't go.
Yes, it's brainwashing.

Originally Posted by Pensive Patrick

I went to a catholic primary school, and I think that forcing beliefs on a child, who is not old enough to decide for themselves yet, is totally wrong, and yes, it is brainwashing.

Saying that, I'm a hardcore athiest, so it obviously doesn't work on everyone.

I think a much more serious problem is religious parents enforcing their religion on their children, because children look up to their parents a lot more than the authority at their school. Only 1 in 12 children stray from the religion of their parents (source: The God Delusion).

I agree, Get them while their young seems to be the Catholic moto...

But also it's more then likely their parents influence.... e.g. My parents aren't practicing and don't know what to believe.... but I wen't to a catholic primary and secondary school and I'm like "Woah, slow down there I don't give a crap about mass"... I guess I'm athesist till proven wrong... which will probably never happen!

I think it's a mixture of parenting, peer presure and background... Mainly parenting though as patrick quite rightly pointed out...

My sister went to Episcopalian school kindergarten thru 8th grade, but to Catholic school for high school...maybe it would have made a difference if she went to Catholic school her whole life...all I know is I went to public school my whole life and I'm pretty sure we have similar beliefs...although she ended up getting into the cheezy contemporary religious music *facepalms*

Yes, it is brainwashing, especially as it comes at a time where people are more likely to believe in what authority figures say without question.

Saying that, I'm a hardcore athiest, so it obviously doesn't work on everyone.

Yet sadly many intelligent people are not immune to the grasp of indoctrination.

Originally Posted by Photolysis

Yes, it is brainwashing, especially as it comes at a time where people are more likely to believe in what authority figures say without question.



Yet sadly many intelligent people are not immune to the grasp of indoctrination.

To be fair, I believe the majority are less likely to believe in authority nowdays if they live in a devleloped country, for example Muslims who have migrated to the UK, their children will more then likely think more about their religion than if they were brought up in a less developed country...

There are mainly factors in people "believing" in religion, but as I said I think it's mainly parenting, peer pressure (schools, friends etc) and background (LEDC's etc)

I went to a baptist private school, not a catholic one. It sounds like the same deal though.

I know the school was extremely strict and fucked me up socially, but I don't think it was brainwashing. They were just teaching what they thought to be true under a stricter-than usual environment.

It's only brainwashing in the same way that military school is brainwashing.

I currently work in a catholic school and wouldnt say there's too much brainwashing going on.

Pupils do go to mass occasionaly, make the sign of the cross before assembly, have religiously focused trips out etc.. but they also have normal science lessons completely devoid of religion, science lessons in which they learn about natural selection, evolution, the big bang theory and the like. I also notice at least some effort being made in encouraging pupils to think for themselves. I noted pupils work up on the walls in an RE classroom some weeks back for example, in which the kids were tasked with arguing both for and against the likelihood of the resurrection story being true.
We also have many atheist teachers throughout the school, one in particular who has a classroom next to my office persists in displaying Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion" book on a shelf for all to see as they enter her classroom .

I may be wrong but id imagine the US would be a little more.. "hardcore".. on the religious side of things when it comes to Catholic schools, but not so much here, at least for this school.

I will add that children do tend to look up to people such as teachers in positions of authority for guidance and examples, and i can see how damaging to freedom of thought a repressive religious system would be. In fact id go so far as to say its almost criminal and constitutes child abuse as far as im concerned, schools should be more about fostering inquisitive, bright and empathetic minds who can find their own way without relying on the dusty dogma of past generations.

I agree with people on the parents thing. I mean the parents have to be the ones who pay for it and send their kids there. I just don't get why catholics baptize kids who can't speak, then tell young impressionable children that if they sin there going to hell.

Anyone who understands spirituality well enough to teach it knows you have to be at leaast in your teens to really understand any of it, in my opinion.

But I'm glad I went through catholic school. It made me think about the beliefs, which showed me how ridiculous they are. I just don't think thats the experience most people have. Sometimes I feel bad, then I think "I used to be catholic" makes me smile every time.

Yes. Further more, I consider it a new form of child abuse. They promote hate, ignorance, and censorship of ideas. I know many people who went to Catholic school. And I have come to the conclusion the Catholic School is probably the leading cause of atheism or conversion to other religions.

I am a Christian, but Catholic School is fucked up.

I went to a catholic school. Catholic elementary school, and catholic high school. And I really didn't feel too brainwashed. Sure, some teachers would have a moment of silence at the start of class, or they would pray and stuff, but it's not like they were trying to completely brainwash us. I wasn't rebellious about the religious teachings, though. I was fairly detached. It was all an exercise in memorization, so it made me good at it, and hell, I don't remember any of the religious teachings (memorization is never the right answer if you want to actually learn stuff).

I'd go into the office of our religion teacher and just talk to him about sects and stuff, since the topic interested me, and he was one of the good ones. I asked him what he thought about "hell", and you know what? He didn't say anything like the bullshit you might hear in the typical bible belt sunday schools. All in all, the experience has allowed me to think critically about it for myself, and I ended up where I am now (definitely not religious).

I hated high school for many reasons, but religious brainwashing wasn't one of them.

I went to a catholic school, but didn't even have any beliefs towards any type of gods. It didn't strike me as brainwashing only because I was capable of coming up with and forming my own beliefs and opinions. To some less intelligent kids that are easily lead - yes I'd definitely consider it brainwashing.

Originally Posted by Replicon

I went to a catholic school. Catholic elementary school, and catholic high school. And I really didn't feel too brainwashed. Sure, some teachers would have a moment of silence at the start of class, or they would pray and stuff, but it's not like they were trying to completely brainwash us. I wasn't rebellious about the religious teachings, though. I was fairly detached. It was all an exercise in memorization, so it made me good at it, and hell, I don't remember any of the religious teachings (memorization is never the right answer if you want to actually learn stuff).

I'd go into the office of our religion teacher and just talk to him about sects and stuff, since the topic interested me, and he was one of the good ones. I asked him what he thought about "hell", and you know what? He didn't say anything like the bullshit you might hear in the typical bible belt sunday schools. All in all, the experience has allowed me to think critically about it for myself, and I ended up where I am now (definitely not religious).

I hated high school for many reasons, but religious brainwashing wasn't one of them.

Yeah, I went to Catholic school from pre-k to Senior year in High School. I am by no means brainwashed (ofcourse, a true branwashee would not truely know). We had weekly masses, we took theology classes, I had uniforms until 8th grade and then free dress with a strict dress code. I think with all the pressures of what to wear, havin uniforms is great, it takes that whole aspect of social life out of the equation.

The educational value is much higher than public schools and from my experience Catholic/Private schools encourage a lot more thinking and discussion. In theology we discussed several topics, including Darwinism versus Adam and Eve...

There was no pressure to remain Catholic, and we were encouraged to explore other beliefs. I now consider myself more of a Buddhist but I am very glad I got the fundamental Catholic values instilled in me. My parents were supportive and simply wanted us to believe in something...

Maybe Catholic/Private school 40 years ago had more of a brainwashing element but so did most public schools with the whole corporal punishment factor...

I also think you can't really have much of a educated opinion on this matter unless you are very familar with the Catholic education system....

for Seattle

I went to catholic school. They have a standardized curriculum like every other school and teach evolution, physics, chemistry, math etc. No it is not brainwashing. Only difference is that you needed a few 'religion credits' which you got by going to religion class. Grade 9 they mostly teach Catholicism, grade 10 is all about world religions, and grade 11 and 12 is basically a philosophy class. There was also a school mass once a month, but you got to miss some class so it was all good.

I went to public, remained christian

everyone I know who went to catholic school, came out atheist. so...I wouldn't say brainwashing or no one would have come out atheist, but definitely the experience must have been sour

ive also been told it makes homosexuals

I don't care whether it's brainwashing or not, it's still Catholic and religious schooling to some degree.

There's a Catholic school on the way to my own which we drive past. If I had it me own way I'd smash the windows in and spread faecal matter all over the walls.

Catholicism is probably the worst mainstream religion bar Islam.

There are no catholic schools here. We barely have catholics at all.

There are no religion schools here, however, we have theology in all schools. It's completely optional and you don't get grades from it. However, it's one of the most interesting classes, if you have the right professor that is.

Originally Posted by Idolfan

I don't care whether it's brainwashing or not, it's still Catholic and religious schooling to some degree.

There's a Catholic school on the way to my own which we drive past. If I had it me own way I'd smash the windows in and spread faecal matter all over the walls.

Catholicism is probably the worst mainstream religion bar Islam.

Pretty violent thoughts you got there about Catholicism.... Can you enlighten us a little more as to why you feel this way about Catholic Schools?

I really hope you never act out that threat, these schools are not state funded, they are a non profit private organization that get money from donors and attendees, it would be very expensive for them to clean your mess. Typing out random threats with no back up defeats the whole purpose of posting anything.....

I went to a Catholic school!
It was terrible.
The way they tried to indoctrinate us was disgusting.

I recommend it for anyone who wants their kid to grow up to be a close minded prick.

A lot of people seem to have an irrational distrust for Catholicism on this forum. I lived as a catholic for the better part of my life, and I personally think I'm a better person because of it. Perhaps I got lucky and found the one Catholic school that wasn't a brainwashing facility...

I find it funny that the people who didn't go to Catholic school seem to have the strongest opinions. 21 votes and counting for "I didn't go to Catholic School, but yes it is brainwashing." And I haven't seen anyone post a strong argument for it.

Yah I laughed out loud when I saw that 62% didn't go to catholic school but thought "yes it is brainwashing" lol

I guess ignorance is truely bliss for some

Originally Posted by grasshoppa

A lot of people seem to have an irrational distrust for Catholicism on this forum. I lived as a catholic for the better part of my life, and I personally think I'm a better person because of it. Perhaps I got lucky and found the one Catholic school that wasn't a brainwashing facility...

I find it funny that the people who didn't go to Catholic school seem to have the strongest opinions. 21 votes and counting for "I didn't go to Catholic School, but yes it is brainwashing." And I haven't seen anyone post a strong argument for it.

I am guessing I have the strongest anti-catholic school opinion, and I went to catholic school.

Teaching a young child a religion is brainwashing. They do not have the capacity to fully understand the concept religion and the do not have the knowledge of other religions and philosophies to compare to what they are being taught. Young children do not have the capacity for complex thinking and religion is a complex subject.

Is that a strong enough argument for you?

Originally Posted by plg6067

I am guessing I have the strongest anti-catholic school opinion, and I went to catholic school.

Teaching a young child a religion is brainwashing. They do not have the capacity to fully understand the concept religion and the do not have the knowledge of other religions and philosophies to compare to what they are being taught. Young children do not have the capacity for complex thinking and religion is a complex subject.

Is that a strong enough argument for you?

An argument, yes, a strong one, no. Define what you exactly mean by "complex"? Catholicism teaches the basic principals of love, kindness to others, fairness, compassion, not to steal, not to swear etc... They teach small children in the form of story books with animals as characters.

Perhaps love and kindess are to complex for some to understand....

Society itself is it's own "brainwashing" machine, telling people to get a job, go to school, don't steal, don't cheat, don't swear, drinking is bad, smoking is bad, stop on red, go on green..... eerily the same to what Catholicism calls for it's practicioners wouldn't you say?

I am intersted in hearing a valid example or argument which makes a direct link to how someone who went to Catholic school became brainwashed because of it.

Originally Posted by dreamingofdreaming

An argument, yes, a strong one, no. Define what you exactly mean by "complex"? Catholicism teaches the basic principals of love, kindness to others, fairness, compassion, not to steal, not to swear etc... They teach small children in the form of story books with animals as characters.

Perhaps love and kindess are to complex for some to understand....

Society itself is it's own "brainwashing" machine, telling people to get a job, go to school, don't steal, don't cheat, don't swear, drinking is bad, smoking is bad, stop on red, go on green..... eerily the same to what Catholicism calls for it's practicioners wouldn't you say?

I am intersted in hearing a valid example or argument which makes a direct link to how someone who went to Catholic school became brainwashed because of it.

I am talking about god, afterlife, son of god on earth, prayer, heaven and hell.
Sure, you can talk about these things in kiddie terms, but that does not make them simple subjects.

These are not subjects that should be dumbed down and spouted to our developing minds.


Religion class did not just teach me about being a good boy... Jesus died for our sins and shit like that is what shouldn't be taught to a kid. They need to decide they believe that for themselves when they are older.