NationStates Jolt Archive

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

Anyone who would should be locked up.

Of course not. The whole f*cking point is that people do it willingly, accept Christ willingly.

Anyone who would should be locked up.
But how is it any different from baptizing their children and sending them to sunday school to be "indoctrinated"?

From what I've seen, Christians don't want their children or anyone else to have a choice. They're like God's salesmen. They'll say and do anything they can to get you to sign the contract, so they can meet their heavenly quota.

But how is it any different from baptizing their children and sending them to sunday school to be "indoctrinated"?

From what I've seen, Christians don't want their children or anyone else to have a choice. They're like God's salesmen. They'll say and do anything they can to get you to sign the contract, so they can meet their heavenly quota.

We have a quota? Damn, I better get on the ball and start saving some lost souls.

It's not so much a quota as it is a commission. The more people you convert, the closer you get to sit next to God at dinner time.

It's not so much a quota as it is a commission. The more people you convert, the closer you get to sit next to God at dinner time.

Well, if Christians believe that God is omnipresent, why would one's place at the dinner table be of any consequence?

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

Thats a dumb question. Accepting Christ is a choice, if someone else made it for you then you really havent accepted him. Therefore, what you propose is impossible.

I'm not Christian by the way, I'm not quite sure why I voted on this.

The argument of indocrination still stands ... I'd rather like to see the ratio of those who have grown up having Christianity/belief in God hammered into them so much that they believe it is true to that of those who have researched and then eventually decided.

The argument of indocrination still stands ... I'd rather like to see the ratio of those who have grown up having Christianity/belief in God hammered into them so much that they believe it is true to that of those who have researched and then eventually decided.

That is the case with most beliefs held to by us pesky humans. Take racism as an example of this. Many people still believe that skin color and similar physical features that are irrelevant to the basic character of a person have some great significance in the scheme of things. Let's look at the issue of abortion. How many people who have strong opinions on abortion have actually put considerable effort into researching and contemplating the issue? I'll bet not many, and that goes for people of all sorts of stances on the issue. I could go on and on with examples of this.

Congratulations, y'all have hit upon one of the most glaringly obvious ways in which we humans are stupid. To put it simply, we believe what we're told, what we read in books, what the voices in our head keep suggesting, and what our most powerful desires make true for us. Welcome to the reality of human existence in which we so strongly need to feel secure by understanding our environment that we'll accept the most ridiculous assertions at face value from people who are no more reliable at separating fact from fiction than we ourselves are.

Note that parts of the above post are heavily generalized and may not apply in all circumstances.

I'm not a Christian, infact I find Christianity itself to be abhorant, but if I understand it's theology correctly this shouldn't be a problem. It will be "willingly" because after the treatment they will be good Christians. It's exactly the same way that evangelizing by giving out bibles or whatever might be against people's "will" at first, but afterwards, if they convert, they realize the error of their ways. This machine would presumably just be a more efficient way to save someone than traditional Evangelical Christianity is.

God gave humans free will. Humans have the right to use that will, no one can be "forced" to become a Christian and accept salvation. And if there was a method, I wouldnt use it because it defeats the object of free will. How would you like it if you had the magical ability to "make" people love you. Even if you could make it real love it wouldnt be because real love comes out of a choice, not out of force.

I've grown up in a Christian household, but it was not hammered into me. I was taught about God's love, His Son, the sacrifice, His grace, etc.. I made the choice, willingly, on my own. And actually have made that same choice - giving my heart and soul to Him - many times in my life.

Christianity cannot be forced on anyone. It is not brain patterns, chemicals, genes or whatever. No one, no matter how hard they try, can EVER force someone to become a Christian. They can force them to read the Bible, talk to the ceiling, memorise scriptures (not important), etc., but that is all. Christianity means seeking a relationship with the Lord and being saved through His grace. It is not a scientific change like you think, it is a spiritual one. This would not work. Nothing like this would ever work. It is solely an individual's conscious choice on whether to accept Christ or not.

I think machines that force opinions would be beneficial to Drzhenism.

1. They're machines, and people like simplicity.
2. You get free orange juice and cookies after being brainwashed.
3. You get to worship me, which is two points in one.
5. ?
6. Individualism is self-delusion. Get over it.

The argument of indocrination still stands ... I'd rather like to see the ratio of those who have grown up having Christianity/belief in God hammered into them so much that they believe it is true to that of those who have researched and then eventually decided.

THe truth is that the majority of Christians that acctually make any sort of impact were "converted" after the age of twenty and were brought there through means of studying the Bible and it's claims through outside sources. Take Lee Strobel for instance it was not until he set out to prove the Bible and Christianity wrong that he decided to become a Christian.

I've grown up in a Christian household, but it was not hammered into me. I was taught about God's love, His Son, the sacrifice, His grace, etc.. I made the choice, willingly, on my own. And actually have made that same choice - giving my heart and soul to Him - many times in my life.

Christianity cannot be forced on anyone. It is not brain patterns, chemicals, genes or whatever. No one, no matter how hard they try, can EVER force someone to become a Christian. They can force them to read the Bible, talk to the ceiling, memorise scriptures (not important), etc., but that is all. Christianity means seeking a relationship with the Lord and being saved through His grace. It is not a scientific change like you think, it is a spiritual one. This would not work. Nothing like this would ever work. It is solely an individual's conscious choice on whether to accept Christ or not.
That's not necessarily true. In fact, in my opinion as a Psychology major, it is certainly very probable that it will be possible many years in the future to either alter the brain or genetically engineer Christians. No, you can't create a gene for beliefs. But there's probably a gene for docility. For example, there were two identical twins, Jack and Oskar, both Jewish. One grew up with a Catholic family in a Nazi household, not knowing he's Jewish, and and became an anti-semitic nazi. The other grew up with a Jewish family in the Caribbean and became a devout Jew. So, clearly, there's a gene there that made them both adapt to the households they were brought up in. On the other hand, the opposite could've happened--They both could've opposed the values of their upbringing. With genetic engineering, this is certainly possible.

And then, with altering the brain after birth... There is a certain part of the brain that deals with religion and God. LSD, mushrooms, and other psychadelics make that part of the brain go haywire, which is why they've been used in so many primtive religious rituals and why many who've used them claimed to have a religious experience, such as being one with the world or speaking with God.

There's also a part of the brain dealing with morality. It was discovered after a railroad worker accidentally had a metal rod slammed through his skull, destroying it. After that, he had no concept of morality whatsoever.

If they could alter that parts of the brain dealing with morality, religion, and obedience, it's quite probable that they could "design a Christian", although obviously, they'd need the environmental influence as well. They'd still need to live with a Christian family or have some kind of Christian education.

So, basically, it wouldn't exactly create a Christian, but it would just create a person who is almost 100% likely to convert to Christianity when faced with the possibility.

There's also a part of the brain dealing with morality. It was discovered after a railroad worker accidentally had a metal rod slammed through his skull, destroying it. After that, he had no concept of morality whatsoever.

Ah yes, Phineus Gaje (sp?) I believe his name was. Though, I don’t think the accident completely destroyed his morality, seeing as he lived for a number of years after his injury without killing or raping anyone, and he managed to earn a living. He did become excitedly violent easily, but there is no report of him ever brutally assaulting anyone. Also, he got along swimmingly with children and animals.

Religion is nothing but a form of controling the masses.

While the grasp of religion on the minds of people is falling away, it is still quite powerfull.
We are told (by good sources) that if you are not baptised then you will go to limbo. Therefore, shortly after a child is born it partents bring it to church. There is now pressure on the parents to bring the child up a "good christian".

The child attends masses on a weekly basis with it's parents, and learns is must conform to the religion if it is to fit in in the comunity, as all other members of the comunity all so attend mass.

There is no free will in chooseing your religion. You "inherit" your religion. There is no "pick-a-religion" stall, operated by someone who tells you they're there to help you pick out a religion that best suites you life style and working hours. The religion of your parents is forced on you. There is no free choice in chooseing it, or in dedicateing you soul to God. You are bougth up beliveing you will be punished in some afterlife if you do not love God.

Religion, as a form of control, gives meaning and perspective to life. We live to serve and die to be united with our holy father. If something goes wrong "it's all part of Gods plan". Serve God in life and be content with your position, for when you die you will go to suger candy mountion and all your worries will be taken away.
Religion incourages acceptence of the controling structure. Once the Monarchy, it is now attempting to survie.

But anyway, Religion controls a persons life from shortly after they are born through the educational process. It's control wanes until the person marries and has a child, when it again takes cotrol. When the child grows up (who it is now controling) the hold on it's parents wanes agian untill they realise that death is at the door but can't find the right key. The cock and bull story about hell and heaven comes back, and they devote their elderly life to religion, both as they have nothing else, to explain why their spouse has passed away and because they realise they themselves on the verge of death.
The funneral then gives everyone a nice story about how they'll all meet again one day, and everyone looks forward to that day, strengthing the power of the church over them. Read Dune, the Bene Gessirit will give you the basic idea of how it works

There is no free will in chooseing your religion. You "inherit" your religion. There is no "pick-a-religion" stall, operated by someone who tells you they're there to help you pick out a religion that best suites you life style and working hours. The religion of your parents is forced on you.

:rolleyes: Yeh, that's why my mum's a Christian, my dad's an atheist, and I'm a Neo-Pagan.

EDIT: Although, to be fair, I do believe I have "inherited" my religion - from my pre-Christian ancestors. I guess it just skipped a few generations :p

-snip-

Oh, man that is so wrong it’s funny. First of all, not all Christians believe in Limbo (the place not the party game) and not all Christians baptize upon birth. Mostly only Catholics do that stuff. Secondly, your whole bit about parents indoctrinating their religion upon their children is wrong. My parents are rather un-religious, yet I am. How do you explain that?

Oh, man that is so wrong it’s funny. First of all, not all Christians believe in Limbo (the place not the party game) and not all Christians baptize upon birth. Mostly only Catholics do that stuff. Secondly, your whole bit about parents indoctrinating their religion upon their children is wrong. My parents are rather un-religious, yet I am. How do you explain that?

Because quite simply, whilst many parents have the wisdom to not indoctrinate their children, many more feel it is necessary so that they avoid whatever Bad Place their religion tells them the unbelivers go.

Of course, indoctrination is flawed, as I have proven on many occasions.

Because quite simply, whilst many parents have the wisdom to not indoctrinate their children, many more feel it is necessary so that they avoid whatever Bad Place their religion tells them the unbelivers go.

Of course, indoctrination is flawed, as I have proven on many occasions.

The choice to 'not-indoctrinate' your child is a choice of indoctrination itself.

Um, and you ain't proved shit - other than a certain level of self delusion.

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

not to christianity. but maybe a bit a modification would not be so bad.

Nope. Christ is free. If they don't want it, it's their own loss.

Hence bible bashers should be bashed by their own bibles. (Learn the reverse arm-twist, and smack him back with the thick black book of his).. First you grab the outer wrist, hold the elbow, then twist his hand towards himself.. and... :D

And what form would worship and servanthood take if such a thing were ever developed? True belief in God takes effort, and free will. We are all sinners -- it's hot wired in human nature -- but choosing to resist the self in order to serve that Higher Good that TRUE Christianity points to is hard work, even heroic if one is pressed that far.

Do not be deceived by instant faith and the lowest common denominator. This proposal smacks of the desire to make things easy, and may not even lead to true faith per se at all... something closer to a lobotomy.

Only 60 years ago in Eastern Europe, the Ustashe were forcing Serbian Orthodox Christians to choose between conversion to Catholicism and death -- sometimes even killing them after those forced conversions in order to continue liquidating the population. Some of their priests were calling for this!!! Whitewashing corruption in the name of 'Christianity' is a disservice to God the Son and to free will in His creation, man.

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?nope, one chooses to follow Christ. just like some Choose not to.

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

Never under any circumstances. It would be morally wrong to force someone in to a religion wothout giving them the option to choose for themselves; this would violate free will and deny them the opportunity to follow their conscience in to doing what is right. The most important thing is what a person does, not what they believe.

Would you convert people with machines?
I'd rather convert people into machines. That'd be fun.
I want an armored exoskeleton.
The choice to 'not-indoctrinate' your child is a choice of indoctrination itself.
If one simply didn't talk to their child about religion or lack of it, would that be indoctrinating them into a viewpoint?

Isn't this the plot for the next James Bond film?

I'd rather convert people into machines. That'd be fun.
I want an armored exoskeleton.

I always wanted to look something like this:

http://www.skirmisher.com/legac407.jpg

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

They can put me on that program just as soon as they can get into my home as I'm sitting on my roof with a good ol' fashion Mauser Rifle.

If they actually found a method to force their beliefs through a person's natural will than I can garentee there would be a some sort of civil war between Christians and every religion imaginable (Especially us Agnostics and Atheists). Not to mention what would the other religions do when they captured said technology/technique.

Time to see how far those bible blasters are willing to go to spread their beliefs. loads rifle

When you get down to it, the Christianity brainwashing "machine" is already in effect. Consider how many people have had their faith replaced with Christianity by the "persuasion" of missionaries. Oh yeah, and inquisitions.

It's not so much a quota as it is a commission. The more people you convert, the closer you get to sit next to God at dinner time.

You must have horrid sources on Christianity, cause that's total BS.

From what I've seen, Christians don't want their children or anyone else to have a choice. They're like God's salesmen. They'll say and do anything they can to get you to sign the contract, so they can meet their heavenly quota.
Way to generalise!

Way to generalise!

Yeah, really. I don't think I've ever discussed it unless someone else brought it up, and never converted anyone unless they showed prior interest.

From what I've seen, Christians don't want their children or anyone else to have a choice. They're like God's salesmen. They'll say and do anything they can to get you to sign the contract, so they can meet their heavenly quota.
ahha, thanks for my Laugh of the Day.
oh my, quota, hahaha
I guess I'm a bit behind, got to git out thar an' convert dem souls!

Yeah, really. I don't think I've ever discussed it unless someone else brought it up, and never converted anyone unless they showed prior interest.

Same here. I mean, if I'm bored, I'll talk about religion with my Muslim friend, but we both know we won't convert each other, so we just talk about similarities and differences, and poke fun at each other, and that's about it. I've never tried to convert someone, though.

Originally Posted by President Shrub
Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?


if such a machine ever existed, I would rather it be used for the exact opposate effect, that is to erase religion from the minds of others

Please. All y'all folks rantin' and ravin' about indocrination are cracking me up. Actually, it's making me cry, but that's another issue. Everyone is indoctrinated by his or her parents, except maybe for some guy on a desert island who was raised by monkeys when his mother died in childbirth. Although come to think of it, the monkeys indoctrinated him, so I guess even he doesn't count.

Point is, if you were ever taught anything by anybody, you were indoctrinated. What most people can't do--Christian, Muslim, Neopagan, and Mushroom Worshiper alike--is think critically. The ability to evaluate indoctrination is sadly lacking in society, and that's the real tragedy.

As far as the machine goes...if we develop that level of technology, we'll all be plugged into the Matrix anyway, and it won't matter.

But how is it any different from baptizing their children and sending them to sunday school to be "indoctrinated"?

From what I've seen, Christians don't want their children or anyone else to have a choice. They're like God's salesmen. They'll say and do anything they can to get you to sign the contract, so they can meet their heavenly quota.
you're stupid.

That's not necessarily true. In fact, in my opinion as a Psychology major, it is certainly very probable that it will be possible many years in the future to either alter the brain or genetically engineer Christians. No, you can't create a gene for beliefs. But there's probably a gene for docility. For example, there were two identical twins, Jack and Oskar, both Jewish. One grew up with a Catholic family in a Nazi household, not knowing he's Jewish, and and became an anti-semitic nazi. The other grew up with a Jewish family in the Caribbean and became a devout Jew. So, clearly, there's a gene there that made them both adapt to the households they were brought up in. On the other hand, the opposite could've happened--They both could've opposed the values of their upbringing. With genetic engineering, this is certainly possible.

And then, with altering the brain after birth... There is a certain part of the brain that deals with religion and God. LSD, mushrooms, and other psychadelics make that part of the brain go haywire, which is why they've been used in so many primtive religious rituals and why many who've used them claimed to have a religious experience, such as being one with the world or speaking with God.

There's also a part of the brain dealing with morality. It was discovered after a railroad worker accidentally had a metal rod slammed through his skull, destroying it. After that, he had no concept of morality whatsoever.

If they could alter that parts of the brain dealing with morality, religion, and obedience, it's quite probable that they could "design a Christian", although obviously, they'd need the environmental influence as well. They'd still need to live with a Christian family or have some kind of Christian education.

So, basically, it wouldn't exactly create a Christian, but it would just create a person who is almost 100% likely to convert to Christianity when faced with the possibility.

Ok do u know how crazy u sound. Do u look forward to being genectically altered. Without any sense of wat is real and wat is not. Itd be horrible. Humans r evil trying to alter God's creation. We should be ashamed. :headbang:

When you get down to it, the Christianity brainwashing "machine" is already in effect. Consider how many people have had their faith replaced with Christianity by the "persuasion" of missionaries. Oh yeah, and inquisitions.

You do know that the inquisition was mainly looking at internal church matters, yes?

We're going after those big ol' meanie missionaries again are we? [i]Those no good, stinking rotten missionaries, they killed Fred :mp5: Take that you missionaries you! :sniper:

How dare they build schools and dig wells and bring in modern medicine, nothing but a bunch of stinking rotten hooligans I tell ya!


:D

Ok do u know how crazy u sound. Do u look forward to being genectically altered. Without any sense of wat is real and wat is not. Itd be horrible. Humans r evil trying to alter God's creation. We should be ashamed. :headbang:

You do realize that genetically altering cells and making sure that we have healthy and fully nourished expectant mothers are two entirely different things that will likely produce similar results, yes? What if the mother needs some additional hormones to help the babies genetics develop healthy immunity system, or avoid a disease etc., during pregnancy.

It's not so easy to dismiss out of hand when you start thinking of treatment instead of alteration as the motivation.

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

no... but i bet some would try, to save people from being damned. (not sure how God would see it though... "Well, you say you believe in me, but then again, is it really you or that microchip in your brain?")

this whole thread is full of BS ok. the inquisition was not God's plan. It was done in his name but he didnt want that to happen ok.the missionaries r helping spread Christianity they r not forcing it. They r just showing them the truth. U cant force them to accept. It has to come from the soul. I am in a christian family, i went to sunday skool every sunday but i just now got saved. Ur parents r trying to show u the right way by bringing u to God. Please get it straight. I'll fight u how long as u want but im not altering any1's brain so forget about it. God is perfect. It is humans fault that all thoses bad things happened. They said in the name of God but they probaly never read a bible oki. :headbang:

Machines should be used to make all Christian Crusaders good Muslims! European Nazis will all be much better when only Muslims are in it! Youll see! History has proven that only Islam is Peaceful and unoppressed! Only under Islams benevolent rule are Christians and Jews and Muslims not fighting! Machine should make Muslims!

Machines should be used to make all Christian Crusaders good Muslims! European Nazis will all be much better when only Muslims are in it! Youll see! History has proven that only Islam is Peaceful and unoppressed! Only under Islams benevolent rule are Christians and Jews and Muslims not fighting! Machine should make Muslims!

I'm going to assume, like probably nearly everyone else here, that that was a joke, and LOL.

The machine should turn everyone into hippies and crusties. The world would be much better off

That's not necessarily true. In fact, in my opinion as a Psychology major, it is certainly very probable that it will be possible many years in the future to either alter the brain or genetically engineer Christians. No, you can't create a gene for beliefs. But there's probably a gene for docility. For example, there were two identical twins, Jack and Oskar, both Jewish. One grew up with a Catholic family in a Nazi household, not knowing he's Jewish, and and became an anti-semitic nazi. The other grew up with a Jewish family in the Caribbean and became a devout Jew. So, clearly, there's a gene there that made them both adapt to the households they were brought up in.
I don't think that's quite right though. Since he had no clue he was Jewish due to being separated from his parents, even if there was no gene dealing with how likely he was to be docile, I would say it would end up the same way. It's not like there is something built in to his head saying "Oh, my real parents were Jews," and then him just going along with what his adoptive parents say and being anti-semitic.

The machine should turn everyone into hippies and crusties. The world would be much better off

yeah, for a while, but then nobody would work, so nothing would get done, and people would starve to death whilst wallowing in their increasingly filthy surroundings.

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

Do you get off on asking asinine questions?

JesusBot v2.1? or 2.0?

2.1 is awesome as it finally added in the new walking on water thing...totally sweet..

BuddaBot is cool too..

So many devious plans behind the guise of "doing good". Ahh, let's build schools that teach "If you don't believe what we believe, you're going straight to a fiery place where you will be tormented painfully for eternity no matter how good you try to be, ignorant one."

Sorry, I just have a personal issue with what I was taught throughout 12 years of Catholic school. It's about the closest form of brainwashing I have ever come across.

this whole thread is full of BS ok. the inquisition was not God's plan. It was done in his name but he didnt want that to happen ok.the missionaries r helping spread Christianity they r not forcing it. They r just showing them the truth. U cant force them to accept. It has to come from the soul. I am in a christian family, i went to sunday skool every sunday but i just now got saved. Ur parents r trying to show u the right way by bringing u to God. Please get it straight. I'll fight u how long as u want but im not altering any1's brain so forget about it. God is perfect. It is humans fault that all thoses bad things happened. They said in the name of God but they probaly never read a bible oki. :headbang:

And of course, it's entirely a coincidence that your parents brought you up with Christian beliefs and that your "soul" led you to Christ. :rolleyes: You have to admit, you're not in much of a bargaining position here.
And if your parents really believed that your soul could lead you to God, they would feel free to give you equal exposure to all religions, and then let you make the choice for themselves. But of course, it would be impossible for them to do that, because they have had so much exposure to Christianity themselves that they wouldn't know how to teach you about other religions effectively.
So how do you escape indoctrination? You don't teach your children anything about religion. At all. And bring them to a community with all types of religions, and keep a copy of all religious texts in your household. In other words, you raise them as an agnostic. As one person mentioned, it's impossible to completely escape indoctrination, but by equal exposure to all religions, we could really see how much people's souls play a factor in their religious beliefs.
And lastly, don't call Christianity "the truth." Nobody knows the truth. Period.

That's not necessarily true. In fact, in my opinion as a Psychology major, it is certainly very probable that it will be possible many years in the future to either alter the brain or genetically engineer Christians. No, you can't create a gene for beliefs. But there's probably a gene for docility. For example, there were two identical twins, Jack and Oskar, both Jewish. One grew up with a Catholic family in a Nazi household, not knowing he's Jewish, and and became an anti-semitic nazi. The other grew up with a Jewish family in the Caribbean and became a devout Jew. So, clearly, there's a gene there that made them both adapt to the households they were brought up in. On the other hand, the opposite could've happened--They both could've opposed the values of their upbringing. With genetic engineering, this is certainly possible.

And then, with altering the brain after birth... There is a certain part of the brain that deals with religion and God. LSD, mushrooms, and other psychadelics make that part of the brain go haywire, which is why they've been used in so many primtive religious rituals and why many who've used them claimed to have a religious experience, such as being one with the world or speaking with God.

There's also a part of the brain dealing with morality. It was discovered after a railroad worker accidentally had a metal rod slammed through his skull, destroying it. After that, he had no concept of morality whatsoever.

If they could alter that parts of the brain dealing with morality, religion, and obedience, it's quite probable that they could "design a Christian", although obviously, they'd need the environmental influence as well. They'd still need to live with a Christian family or have some kind of Christian education.

So, basically, it wouldn't exactly create a Christian, but it would just create a person who is almost 100% likely to convert to Christianity when faced with the possibility.
You could make someone more susceptible to becoming a Christian possibly, but actually becoming a Christian is a conscious choice. No amount of genetic or psychological engineering would result otherwise. It is SPIRITUAL, not anything else. And spiritual cannot be tampered with.

this whole thread is full of BS ok. the inquisition was not God's plan. It was done in his name but he didnt want that to happen ok.the missionaries r helping spread Christianity they r not forcing it. They r just showing them the truth. U cant force them to accept. It has to come from the soul. I am in a christian family, i went to sunday skool every sunday but i just now got saved. Ur parents r trying to show u the right way by bringing u to God. Please get it straight. I'll fight u how long as u want but im not altering any1's brain so forget about it. God is perfect. It is humans fault that all thoses bad things happened. They said in the name of God but they probaly never read a bible oki. :headbang:

The truth? Ok. "There's only one God who decides for everyone whether they get eternal happiness or roasted forever in flames that burn but to not conume. He's all wise and all loving so he bases this decission only on whether or not you agree that some guy you've never heard of is his son.

Yes, we know that you've never heard of him. That's because he lived hundreds of years ago, thousands of miles away. Well, God is perfect, so all your dead relatives must have been so evil that they'd never have accepted his word anyway, even if they'd received it, so it doesn't matter that we didn't get here to tell you about him. Clearly we've only arrived now because it wasn't until now that you started giving birth to people who are good enough that they deserve the same salvation as our theives and child molesters who spread his word.

No, it has nothing to do with the fact that we've only just now learned how to build boats that will get us here and guns that will keep you from killing us as soon as we tell you how evil your entire way of life is. Aren't you happy that we've just shown up to tell you how awful you are?"

Yup, rings of sincerity to me.

No, wait, what's that other thing...? Bullshit.

Just to let everyone here know, there are such machines, though not for converting people to Christianity specifically.

Over the centuries, theories have abounded as to why human beings have a seemingly irrational attraction to God and religious experiences. In Why God Won't Go Away authors Andrew Newberg, M.D., Eugene D'Aquili, M.D., and Vince Rause offer a startlingly simple, yet scientifically plausible opinion: humans seek God because our brains are biologically programmed to do so.

Just to let you know, the book isn't some "Atheist" (I put it in quotes because there should be no capital A, thus insinuating that it is a belief structure, not that I could disuade some of you) propaganda, it's a book based on science. And, moreover, attempts to resolve religion and science through a Christian slant (thus actually putting off some members of the scientific community).

The machines that I alluded to were used in Newberg's experiments, where he used them on people who had been secular (atheist) all their lives. The result was that they experienced feelings of spiritual awakening, and felt like they were in the presence of (a) higher being(s). Alas, it's only temporary.

But how is it any different from baptizing their children and sending them to sunday school to be "indoctrinated"?

From what I've seen, Christians don't want their children or anyone else to have a choice. They're like God's salesmen. They'll say and do anything they can to get you to sign the contract, so they can meet their heavenly quota.

Someone who is indoctrinated to believe in Christ is hardly the same thing as someone who cannot but accept Christ. I was trained in a religious school to believe in Christ, but I stopped for a while after my father died. Why? Because all the indoctrination in the world meant nothing in the face of an inexplicable tragedy and God's failure to intervene. In the same way, I'm now a Christian not because I was indoctrinated to believe in it, but because I chose to accept the validity of parts of that indoctrination (parts being the operational word).

We first need a machine to give handjobs at 1million RPMs.

JesusBot v2.1? or 2.0?

2.1 is awesome as it finally added in the new walking on water thing...totally sweet..

BuddaBot is cool too..

a 2.1 version would be sacreligious - seriously, Jesus is infallible, there should be no need for patches to fix bugs!

a 2.1 version would be sacreligious - seriously, Jesus is infallible, there should be no need for patches to fix bugs!

Well, we are on like Catholicism 15.0 (downgraded since the last pope).

Let's say, in the future, they find a certain method of altering the brain, or gene therapy, or a certain chemical that turns people Christian. Would you use it on people? If so, who? Just your children, or would you try to use it on everyone?

No, no, no, no, no not on anyone.... :headbang:

The point is to accept Christ willingly, it'd all be pointless if it wasn't a choice

This is a stupid thread. Get a life.