3 easy steps to utterly convincing another of your religion?

[SpazzylMcGee]

1) When they are young tell them of all the stories in your religion. Pay extra attention to the more fantastic stories and tell them they are 100% true.

2) Associate all positive feelings like happiness and love with your chosen deity. As time progresses they will become dependent on this deity for all comfort.

3) Make sure to emphasize the importance of faith. So long as they think doubts are sinful and faith is blessed they will never listen to any alternatives.

As they grow up they will start to question some of the things you tell them. All you need to do is show obvious pity towards them, tell them they are lost, guilt them by saying "but [insert deity] loves you", and if necessary tell them that they will be severely punished when they die and lose out on a lot of happiness if they don't believe.

Opinions?

[CYNTHIA]

You are good!! You said what I have been trying to say. Thanks!

[mnimmmsälmmnms™]

I would say that your three easy steps theory has been reproduced and proven enough, including peer review, to now call it the "Law of Idiodynamics."

[maddie]

If someone has a real experience with God, that person will not need any sort of psychological manipulation. If someone doesn't believe it, he or she can pray for help. No one should force you into faith. It's actually quite impossible.

[IsraelLover]

Just tell them the truth. The BIBLE is real.

[Boles:BiggerthanJesus]

I was so sure that a lobotomy would be involved in at least 1 of those 3 steps.

[Darwin]

1. Scare them with hell stories.
2. God will make you rich if you believe my way.
3. God will make you richer if you donate money to me.

[Prof]

And a fourth step to make your religion eternal:

4) Tell you children repeatedly that they have a duty to bring up their own children in the same way, and that a severe punishment awaits them if they do not, but a wonderful reward if they do...

Plan ahead for the next generation, and the next and the next... that's the secret!

;-)

[nonsumfisch]

Agreed.

[JohnDe]

All beliefs are formed like this though, not just religious ones. Anyways this sounds like NLP.