Imagine two scenarios:

Scenario 1: All traces of religion have been removed from the Earth. That means that there are no places of worship, there are no religious texts, there are no religious pictures or videos, there are no artifacts or objects related to religion, there is nothing about religion stored on computers, and there is no memory of religion in anyone’s mind.

Scenario 2: All traces of science have been removed from the Earth. That means that there are no institutions or universities or laboratories to do with science, there are no papers or textbooks to do with science, there are no scientific pictures or videos, there are no measurements or discoveries that were made by science, there is nothing about science stored on computers, and there is no memory of science in anyone’s mind.

Note that the above scenarios are how it would have been at a reasonably recent point in the history of life on Earth, say about 20,000 to 100,000 years ago (or more).

Now, from those starting-point scenarios, replay time as it would have happened for normal human development. By the time you get back to approximately our modern times (give or take) two outcomes would be true:

Outcome 1: There would definitely be religion, however not a single thing about the new religion would be the same as the religions that were forgotten. For sure, people would worship god(s) via various practices and for sure there would be texts to do with various religions, but none of those gods, practices or texts would be the same as those removed in scenario 1. Yes, there would still be people making money from religion and yes, there would be followers of those new religions.

Outcome 2: Every single thing to do with the “new” science would be the same as the science that was forgotten. Every mathematical theorem, every scientific observation and measurement, every single laboratory function, every paper and textbook, every piece of medicine, the syllabus of every university course – all would end up being the same.

Think about that.

Those outcomes lead to two interesting conclusions. Firstly, that there is something inherently correct about the scientific approach, and secondly, that there is a need for the religious to indoctrinate the next generation (and as many other people as they can) into following current belief systems and practices. if they don’t, there’s a real chance that support will drop below a critical mass and lead to the decline of their religion and practices.

The problem with indoctrination is that it isn’t easy to tell if you have been indoctrinated, and it certainly isn’t easy to determine the extent to which you’ve been indoctrinated if you have been. To help you detect if you have any level of indoctrination, here is a check list:

• Do you believe that there is a god?
• Do you believe that your god created part or all of the universe?
• Do you believe that your god actively affects aspects of your life?
• Do you believe that your god affects aspects of other peoples’ lives?
• Do you attempt to communicate with your god, e.g. by praying?
• Do you believe that communicating with your god (e.g. praying) can alter events?
• Do you attend a location (e.g. a church) on a regular basis to practice aspects of your religion?
• Do you take seriously one or more people who claim to have expertise in aspects of your religion?
• Do you attempt to explain aspects of your religion to others?
• Do you insist or encourage others to practice aspects of your religion?
• Do you regularly read from your religious texts?
• Do you supply money, goods or your time to support your religion?
• Do you feel the need to have religious decoration or ornaments in you home, e.g. paintings, statues, etc.
• Do you believe that morals originate from your religious texts.
• Do you believe in the concept of sin?
• Do you believe in absolutes, e.g. that things are either good/bad or right/wrong?
• Do you tend to just accept what others in your religion tell you, e.g. without attempting to check things for yourself?
• Do you have distance/separation between yourself and family and/or friends because of your religion?
• Do you attempt to follow one or more practices of your religion as detailed by your religious texts?
• Do you try to restrict your dealings, e.g. in business or trade, to members of your religion?
• Do you readily reject supernatural aspects of other religions, yet easily accept supernatural aspects in your religion?
• Do you believe that problems in life can be solved by you following the practices specified by your religious texts?
• Do you believe that the world would become perfect if everyone were to follow the practices specified by your religious texts or leaders?
• Do you believe in rules or practices mandated by your religious leaders/elders that are not present in your religious texts?
• Do you believe in the concept of being “born again”?
• Do you believe that you need to be baptized?
• Do you believe that everyone must be able to identify as one of only two genders?
• Do you believe that heterosexual relationships are the only permissible relationships?
• Do you believe that what consenting adults do in their own homes should be influenced by your religious texts?
• Do you believe that government should make decisions in accordance with the rules arising from your religious texts or from the statements made by your religious leaders?
• Do you believe that statements by your religious leaders are automatically correct?
• Do you believe that any of the characters in your religious texts existed?
• Do you believe that any of the events in your religious texts happened?
• Do you believe that prophecies specified in your religious texts have come true?
• Do you feel that you can’t condemn the more extreme statements or actions from members of your own religion?
• Do you believe that your god is omniscient or omnipotent or perfect?
• Do you believe that there are no contradictions in your religious texts?
• Do you believe that there are no mistakes in your religious texts?
• Do you find yourself inclined to excuse unconscionable behaviour in your religious texts, e.g. murder, cruelty and slavery?
• Do you believe that all of the rules and laws specified in your religious texts are applicable to modern society?
• Do you believe that “the ends justifies the means”, is enough reason for actions and statements by your religion?
• Do you believe that evolution is unscientific?
• Do you believe that society should fund your religion?
• Do you believe that all aspects of your religion form the basis of the one true religion?
• Do you find yourself supporting fringe theories that result from your religious texts, e.g. that the Earth is flat or that all “kinds” of animals fit on a boat while the Earth flooded?
• Do you believe that people who identify as atheists are practicing a belief system?
• Do you believe in a place called heaven (or similar)?
• Do you believe in a place called hell (or similar)?
• Do you believe that there is such a thing as an afterlife?
• Do you believe that there is such a thing as eternal life?
• Do you believe in reincarnation?
• Do you believe that you have a soul?
• Do you believe that people will be punished (in an afterlife) for bad behavior in this life?
• Do you believe that you will be rewarded (in an afterlife) for good behavior in this life?

If you answered “yes” to even one of the above, then you have been indoctrinated – at least to some extent. The more of the above to which you answered “yes”, the more severe is your indoctrination.

That’s not to say that you are necessarily at fault because indoctrination is almost always the deliberate act by someone towards someone else. It is possible to self indoctrinate, however that is rare because indoctrination usually requires the assistance of someone else, or to be via materials provided by someone else, e.g. via text or audio-visual material.

And of course, if you are a child (or still quite young) then perhaps you had no choice but to be indoctrinated by people that you depend upon and trust.

(More to come…)