Why does "religion" have a bad habit of imprisoning the mind?

Question

Why do people allow it?

Answer 1

because it teaches people not to have a mind of there own and to just have blind faith in what they are told no matter how daft it is. the worst thing a religious person can do id ask a question or doubt something that they have been taught

Answer 2

Religious people are not permitted independent thought. They must submit to their methodology, no excuses.

They allow it to fit in and not be ostracised from friends and family.

Answer 3

Why do people allow religion as a whole or why do they allow it to 'imprison' the mind? My answer to both is that I don't know. As an atheist I can see that religion does give people comfort in certain situations. Those who are scared of dying find it a comfort to believe in another life. Those who have lost a loved one are comforted by the same thought. Those who feel alone don't need to if they believe in a god watching over them. But at the same time the concept of religion can be abused by those who wish to bend others to their will. The Westboro Baptist Church uses the idea of god to spread their filthy message and so many zealous Christians (and others) use the bible to justify their homophobic and xenophobic beliefs. On a smaller scale we have parents telling their children that if they're naughty they go to h**l, that if they break one of those ten special rules they'll go to h**l, that the only way to avoid h**l is to believe in the big guy upstairs.

As for people allowing religion to imprison their mind; perhaps to them the advantages outweigh the pesky problem of not thinking for themselves?

Answer 4

Sometimes a person can be fearful of facing absolutes in life, like death. So it's easier to check the brain at the door and just follow.  

Answer 5

It happens so gradually they don't realize they are being controlled until it is too late and they are brainwashed.  

Answer 6

Because people trust their bible more than they trust their own common sense

Answer 7

Because (most of) religions can't tolerate something other than that strong feeling of confidence and arrogance against anything that's not written in "the" particular sacred book. It would make the whole thing collapse if  questions rise. For religious systems based on faith, reason is anathema, subjugated to that blurry thing called faith that sustains all those improbable sacred truths and facts.

And most people don't get a chance to not allow it. This "revelations" regarding every single aspect of life are so compeling that most people will be owerlhelmed by them and just obey without hesitation. Besides, is kind of a good deal: you obey and shut up, and you get eternal life.

* * *

Religions deserve respect. The problem is when they pretend to be unique and flawless. Nothing in the world has those virtues.

Answer 8

All that the mind is capable of doing is bad. Hence.

The hardest thing to accomplish in this world is not rocket science. It is sitting in one place, eyes and mouth closed and being like that for days!

In other words, controlling the mind is the most challenging thing to do on earth. The hardest task in the world yields the best result - Eternal Peace. And when it is obvious that the best result can only be accomplished upon controlling the mind, then isn't it crystal clear that whatever else the mind does is only bad?

Answer 9

i am not religious but spiritual - but by my belief in god i have been set free from the bondage of satan and his demons-they no longer control my life - god is in control of my life now- praise the lord his truth has set me free

Answer 10

Christianity sets the mind free to have the mind of Christ, the one for whom all was created, by Him, in Him, and through Him. This mind sees reality. It is not imprisoned to time and space, it sees eternity.  

Answer 11

It is the same psychological process that happens when a woman gets involved in a relationship with an abusive partner, I believe.  In the beginning, a man can offer you the world (or eternal life).  But little by little, he beats your psyche down until you believe you can be nothing without him and are terrified to think for yourself or make decisions for yourself, and especially terrified of leaving.  

Answer 12

Because people are content within the small box that religious thinking places them in. It's uncomfortable for many people to have to take in some secular ideas about the world and universe not because they're dumb, but because it's tough for them to deal with, like there being no God or higher purpose for being here.

Answer 13

Ideally religion should provide order in the way people think, as well as the way people live their life.

A pity that people just accept the religion they are born into, and refuse to think.

Then there are those, to whom order, any order is like imprisonment.

To them anarchy and chaos is the epitome of freedom!

Answer 14

sadly they feel an emptiness when facing the unknown, and religion fills that void.