Kamangir (Archer)

“Helping” the Children Find the Path

Kamangir | June 5, 2005 | Category Iran

In his book “Invitation to the Sociology of Religion”, Phil Zuckerman argues the values of the the sentence “cults brain-wash people”.

When I came to office this morning I took a look at Winnipeg Free Press. There, on the cover, there was a list of the names of the people arrested with regard to the terrorist cell discovered in Ontario. Strangely enough, almost all of the names were referring to Islamic identities such as “Muhammad”. Then, I asked our office administrator what she understands from the whole story, especially the fact that many of the detainees were below 25. She used the very frequently mentioned and heard phrase “they are brainwashed”. Then I tried to explain to her what may happen to a young religious human being whom thinks he knows the truth and that all other people are committing immodesty and sin.

Any way, when comparing people’s definition of cults and what they claim as the difference between a cult and a religion, Zuckerman mentions that some people say “cults brain-wash people”. Then he asks if we accept a twenty-year old boy who converts into a weird religion to be brainwashed but we exclude a seven-year old boy sent to a Sunday School.

I was looking at these pictures, both taken during the ceremonies for Khomeini’s death. I would be grateful if anyone could give me a valid argument why these children are there. Please do not use any of the polite synonyms for brainwashing such as “guidance to the truth”, “helping them find the path”, or “have them experience the …”. Because my next question would be “then will you expose them to pornography, just to have a sense of a probable path?”