How do you recognize religious propaganda?

[ChristineM]

I don't mean so much how do you recognize religious propaganda as how do you recognize religious propaganda, though feel free to share your views on either or both.

Whenever someone tries to feed you religion.

 

[QuestioningMind]

Something made to fool your mind.

I think that applies to all religions.

 

[shunyadragon]

Something made to fool your mind.

This can be be an accusation made by any religion against any other religion. This fits the response of most of the posts generally accusing everyone else of propaganda.

 

[sun rise]

Propaganda...
Someone is talking at you, not with you.

I'd go further and state that its essence is "I'm right. You're wrong. You should accept that and change your mind"

That can be direct: My religion (or lack thereof) is the one true religion. Your religion (or lack thereof) is false. Adopt my view and be saved (free your mind)

Or more subtle: All religions have parts of the truth. Adopt this view and you will adopt the right viewpoint. Stick to believing that your religion is the one true religion and you won't progress spiritually.

I confess to the "sin" of propaganda, both religions and political, in case any wondered.

 

[Audie]

I don't mean so much how do you recognize religious propaganda as how do you recognize religious propaganda, though feel free to share your views on either or both.

Same way we recognize it if the topic is
Bigfoot, flying saucers, the Bermuda
Triangle, etc, though, I would not necessarily
use the word "propaganda".

 

[Audie]

So, scriptures, tracts, sermons, billboards, stuff like that?

Anything promoting it.

 

[Audie]

"Can't be verified" is an important part of what makes propaganda recognizable. I would like to add this to my response above, please.

Add in, "lies, and gross distortions / misrepresentations"

 

[Audie]

The first problem is to properly define religion. Not all religions worship deities. Buddhism, which is considered a major world religion has no deities, yet it is called a religion. Buddha was a precocious young man who used his mind and self observation to develop a philosophy and techniques, to achieve enlightenment. Therefore, a connection to deities, by itself, is not enough to infer all forms of religious propaganda. There is another kind of religious propaganda that is not as obvious as deities.

The problem is atheism has defined religion in a way that exempts itself. Their standard would not consider Buddhism a religion since this religion lacks deities. The Buddhists are happy to call this a religion and they should know better.

Atheism is the mirror image of Buddhism, in the sense atheism is about humans using the extroversion of science to evolve humanity, while Buddhism is about humans using introspection to evolve humanity. Both are based on humans activity to achieve higher states of knowledge and enlightenment. There are no deities involved, although some will worship those who take their respective techniques to the upper level; Buddha, Einstein, Darwin,etc.

One such non deity example of religious propaganda, that comes to mind, is the idea of utopian Socialism. Socialism has a connection to the teachings of Jesus. But beyond that, If you look at history, socialism does not turn out as well as the utopian fantasy that is always sales pitched. The sales pitch creates a paradise illusion but it never ends that way in reality.

This fantasy propaganda, in the light of hard data that says otherwise, would rank as a type of religious propaganda, since even atheism broadly defines religion as imaginary. Socialism is more in the mold of a religion without deities, where humans get to play God; Stalin and Castro, pillaging the wealth and power of their socialist nation, until they have the control over life and death.

The left wing religious propaganda about Trump being an incarnation of Hitler is a type of reincarnation religious propaganda. This and other types of religious propaganda has turned Trump into a type of fairly tale character, who symbolizes all that is wrong and evil with humans. This is not even rational, which may be another sign of religious propaganda.

The only reason this religious propaganda is being left alone is the Supreme Court once ruled that freedom of the press could not be hindered by litigation, and that public figures had to take even lies and slander with no way to appeal beyond public opinion. The press used to self censor and set limits, so this worked out. However, ever since Trump won, self censor was thrown out, knowing, even religious propaganda; fairy tales, would be protected under the statute. This freedom to speak, lies and religious fantasy propaganda, has misinformed the less than rational, like a sermon from a quick talking evangelist.

This statute may need to change in the near future, so subtle non-deity, religious propaganda, by the press, will be subject to liable and slander suits, unless they make it clear this is unsubstantiated fantasy or opinion. CNN may have to have post a large disclaimer, for 10 seconds, before each show, saying the following is for entertainment purposes only, and should not be taken seriously. This may head off the lawyers since it warns of religious propaganda; fantasy sold as authority.

Ya know, WW, as soon as ya say that atheism is a religion,
it makes me think you are not going to say anything sensible
after that.

Glance ahead.. yup, sure enough.
in the sense atheism is about humans using the extroversion of science to evolve humanity,

 

[Audie]

Then all religion is propaganda.

Ciao



- viole

You have a way of saying it all in an economy of words.

 

[icehorse]

I don't mean so much how do you recognize religious propaganda as how do you recognize religious propaganda, though feel free to share your views on either or both.

A lot of what religious people have to say is ultimately propaganda. I would say that anything that's based on pretending to know answers is probably propaganda. Religions pretend to know answers to questions of the creator of the universe and the source of morality and so on. Religious people don't really have proof of their so-called answers, ultimately they are pretending to have real answers, when in fact they don't. So, any claims that uses these "answers" as a foundation, are themselves suspect.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'd go further and state that its essence is "I'm right. You're wrong. You should accept that and change your mind"

That can be direct: My religion (or lack thereof) is the one true religion. Your religion (or lack thereof) is false. Adopt my view and be saved (free your mind)

Or more subtle: All religions have parts of the truth. Adopt this view and you will adopt the right viewpoint. Stick to believing that your religion is the one true religion and you won't progress spiritually.

I confess to the "sin" of propaganda, both religions and political, in case any wondered.

I hear ya, bruderherz.

 

[sealchan]

I don't mean so much how do you recognize religious propaganda as how do you recognize religious propaganda, though feel free to share your views on either or both.

Any time a religious claim is made to seem factual about the supernatural rather than fictional.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I don't mean so much how do you recognize religious propaganda as how do you recognize religious propaganda, though feel free to share your views on either or both.

If it doesn’t conform to the Word of God, then it is obviously ‘religious propaganda’.

Propaganda = ‘precepts of man’. Matthew 15:9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.

 

[shunyadragon]

If it doesn’t conform to the Word of God, then it is obviously ‘religious propaganda’.

Propaganda = ‘precepts of man’. Matthew 15:9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.

This goes along with the line; 'If you do not conform to my belief' and, of course. 'my God' your obviously propaganda.

Again . . .

This can be be an accusation made by any religion against any other religion. This fits the response of most of the posts generally accusing everyone else of propaganda.

Not objectively meaningful.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

I don't mean so much how do you recognize religious propaganda as how do you recognize religious propaganda, though feel free to share your views on either or both.

One red flag is if it seems biased against a person or group with no objective basis or rationale.

 

[Shad]

how do you recognize religious propaganda, though feel free to share your views on either or both.

The religious person's mouth is moving and words about religion are spoken.

 

[Remté]

Not at all. Only news that fits into what I've already described to be recognizable propaganda.

Are you suggesting that all news is unverifiable?

If we use the same measures to do it as you use to make scriptures unverifiable then yes.

 

[Remté]

The religious person's mouth is moving and words about religion are spoken.

That's a phobia you describe.

 

[Remté]

One red flag is if it seems biased against a person or group with no objective basis or rationale.

No objective basis? That's vague. Philosophically speaking we might agree there is no such a thing.

 

[Remté]

Then all religion is propaganda.

Ciao

- viole

Isn't atheism a religion?