Thread: Is catholic school brainwashing?

I went to catholic school and I felt like it was a rather strange experience. They make you wear a uniform. They make you go to mass. They tell you what to believe and don't encourage you to come up with your own beliefs.

Now granted, not all people will respond to this conditioning. But there were a lot of people at my school who just ate that shit up. They firmly believed that catholicism was right. There were also some people(and this was probably the majority) who didn't care that much about religion, but still beleived in the catholic version of God and heaven and hell because of what they were taught.

I'm also curious as to weather or not people who went to catholic school are still catholic. I'm not.
I messed up the poll, but it's alright.

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)

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.

I went to catholic school for Kindergarten and first grade.
I thought it was pretty liberal as far as catholic schools go.

we didnt have uniforms or tests. we discussed the bible and shit but it wasnt crammed down our thoughts.

I actually have some pretty good childhood memories from there

Originally Posted by Matt5678

I went to catholic school for Kindergarten and first grade.

Shit man... you alright?

I doubt there is anymore brainwashing going on at a catholic school than a normal public school. Though perhaps that is open to debate. I am sure you wouldn't want to go if you were a different religion but there is nothing wrong with a catholic school if your catholic. Its kind of like going to church every week. Going to church normally isn't considered being brainwashed.

Originally Posted by Alric

I doubt there is anymore brainwashing going on at a catholic school than a normal public school. Though perhaps that is open to debate. I am sure you wouldn't want to go if you were a different religion but there is nothing wrong with a catholic school if your catholic. Its kind of like going to church every week. Going to church normally isn't considered being brainwashed.

Actually, plenty of non-Catholics go to Catholic schools, simply because they're good schools.

That is true as well. I personally wouldn't mind having to listen to the religious stuff, if it meant a far better education.

spent four years at catholic high school..it was one big party (at graduation kids were handing out lsd in parking lot) dont know about brainwashing..was too high to remember

easier too brain wash when on drugs hahah

I didn't go to a Catholic school, but I feel I have some level of understanding surrounding this.
I won't answer the poll, because my answer is a bit split.
Before I say anything, let me just say that I mean no disrespect to any Catholics. The following is only speculation.


On one hand, I firmly believe that the Catholic schools have no intention of brainwashing, at all.


On the other hand, Catholicism itself, somehow in its creation and evolution over time, has caused the practice to turn into something like brainwashing.
Check out https://www.alternet.org/belief/50-r...atholic-church

In my opinion, Christianity is vastly misunderstood, even by those practicing it. The reason being, it's not taught properly. People develop a dependency on the word of a priest or a book, which is often either said wrongly, or misunderstood.
You can talk to God any time you want, and if you just open yourself up enough, you can hear/feel the answer. It's not difficult. But they don't teach that, as far as I'm aware.
Christianity (especially Catholicism, probably) is a cataclysm of misunderstanding and fear-based thinking. That's where the brainwashing comes in.

Some say that the brainwashing is actually deliberate. Some claim that dark forces are controlling Christianity (and some other religions).
The dark forces that control the world WANT us all to be in a constant state of fear.
Some will say that those dark forces are the Illuminati. Some will say it's the Annunaki. Some say the Reptilians. Some say they are all connected.

And I'm putting a great big target on my head by saying these things. So if this is the last you hear of me, you'll know what happened. xD