# If you were raised to believe disease was caused by curses, would you still believe it today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 26, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376 "2012-06-26T18:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/1 "2012-06-26T18:54:12Z")
It’s a fairly logical assertion that most people practice their particular form of religion because they were raised to. But, we could dream up countless examples of how virtually no degree of indoctrination could convince many of these same people to continue believing factually baseless or logically absurd assertions throughout their lives. Is fear the driving factor here? The comfort and fellowship offered by such beliefs? What other reasons could there be? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/2 "2012-06-26T19:48:22Z")
I’m not sure, but I was raised to believe disease was caused by some form of pathogen or something scientific/medical. I have come to accept that disease is caused by curses and often manifest themselves in the form of a pathogen. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/3 "2012-06-26T19:55:57Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I’m not sure, but I was raised to believe disease was caused by some form of pathogen or something scientific/medical. I have come to accept that disease is caused by curses and often manifest themselves in the form of a pathogen. What led you to abandon scientific fact backed up by over a century of hard research for what is basically voodoo? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/4 "2012-06-26T19:59:42Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I’m not sure, but I was raised to believe disease was caused by some form of pathogen or something scientific/medical. I have come to accept that disease is caused by curses and often manifest themselves in the form of a pathogen. So if you were thirsty and someone gave you a bottle of water full of Giardia, would you drink it? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/5 "2012-06-26T21:04:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What led you to abandon scientific fact backed up by over a century of hard research for what is basically voodoo? Lets see, ‘voodoo’ worked in my life, science didn’t. To me it doesn’t matter what can be proven, what matters is what works for me personally. How long would someone keep placing faith in science when it has failed time after time for them personally? How long would it take someone to believe in voodoo if it works even though no one can scientifically prove it? It’s a pretty big leap to go against what everyone is telling you is true. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/6 "2012-06-26T21:09:05Z")
> [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > It’s a fairly logical assertion that most people practice their particular form of religion because they were raised to. How so? I’ve met a very few people who say that they chose their religious identification because of how they were raised, but certainly the vast majority provide a different reason or reasons. I’ve heard certain opponents of religion point out that there’s a positive association between the religious beliefs of parents and their children, but we’re all familiar with the phrase ‘correlation does not imply causation’. > [@](#): > > Is fear the driving factor here? The comfort and fellowship offered by such beliefs? What other reasons could there be? Speaking only for myself, I was raised in an atheist household and converted to Christianity because I found all the facts pointing to the conclusion that Christian doctrine is true. I’ve never met any person who chose their religious identification because of fear, and only a very few who let 'comfort and fellowship" play any role in their decision. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/7 "2012-06-26T21:23:42Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > So if you were thirsty and someone gave you a bottle of water full of Giardia, would you drink it? It just doesn’t work that way, there are no rules. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/8 "2012-06-26T21:31:24Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > It just doesn’t work that way, there are no rules. So if there isn’t any rule that your likely to get the disease Giardia from consuming the parasites that scientists believe are the cause, why not drink the bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/9 "2012-06-26T21:35:51Z")
A reminder of how **kanicbird** believes science works: > [@Believers: Why are you so sure of your beliefs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/240): > > Mothers chicken soup has been known by many to be a cure for so many illnesses, including the common cold. What the cure is is not in the chemical compounds but the Love flowing from the mother to the child who is acceptive to that Love and trusts his mother. Love is what cures, Love is God and God is Spirit, so Love is Spirit, something science does not want to deal with. > > When scientists get their hands on this, they analyze the chemical compounds, and remove the Love from the mother as far as possible by double blind studies, and remove the acceptance of Love and trust from the child. Then no surprise they find nothing. Or if they do find something they insist that the soup has to contain a certain compound to work, or be made a certain way. This insistence of a certain way, repeatable results, is in religion called legalism. Legalism manifests itself in Christianity in insistence of certain prayers, or rituals or the use of a certain version of the Bible. Science is no different, and they take it to a whole other level. Love does not work this way, Love is accepting and not demanding. > > What about pharmaceuticals that do work. God has His one church everywhere, people who Love others. They work for pharmaceutical companies, and the Love of God flows through them into the medicine, which the person takes. That person may block healing, which is the flow of Love, from prayer or chicken soup, but is open to healing from a medicine, but as has been proven, even placebos can deliver healing. > > It’s not the compounds but the belief that healing must come through compounds that limit people’s ability to heal only through compounds. Once freed from that you can heal from many sources of Love. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/10 "2012-06-26T21:55:25Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Speaking only for myself, I was raised in an atheist household and converted to Christianity because I found all the facts pointing to the conclusion that Christian doctrine is true. Well, what actually happened is that you deluded yourself into thinking that. It’s certainly not true that the facts support Christianity since if it were, you would sing those facts from the rooftops. As for the OP, people who are invested in their delusions don’t want to give them up because you have to admit you’re wrong. No one likes looking like a fool. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/11 "2012-06-26T22:09:41Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > So if there isn’t any rule that your likely to get the disease Giardia from consuming the parasites that scientists believe are the cause, why not drink the bottle? It is tied to spirituality, and the belief that I am able to discern the truths from guidance from above. In your example, sort of like a dare, you are attempting to control my actions by your challenge, which if I fall for it, I fall away from the guidance that I believe protects me which would leave me open to trouble. This is one reason you can’t order God to perform on (your) demand, He will not fall for it, though a person might. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/12 "2012-06-26T22:23:11Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Lets see, ‘voodoo’ worked in my life, science didn’t.. Science worked (and is working) in my life and billions of others. Voodoo isn’t. What do you conclude from that? ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/13 "2012-06-26T22:30:55Z")
Wow, I totally thought kanicbird was being sarcastic with his/her initial post. I have to believe he/she still is and is continuing with the ruse for sport. He/she can’t be serious. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/14 "2012-06-26T22:31:28Z")
> [@Confused dart cum](#): > > Science worked (and is working) in my life and billions of others. Voodoo isn’t. What do you conclude from that? Let each person decide for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/15 "2012-06-26T22:36:08Z")
> [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > Wow, I totally thought kanicbird was being sarcastic with his/her initial post. I have to believe he/she still is and is continuing with the ruse for sport. He/she can’t be serious. I am serious, I do believe science can be as indoctrinating and brainwashing as religion and is a atheistic religion of sorts. I’m not saying it’s worthless, as I do believe it is valuable when put in perspective of what it is, just the knowledge we are ready to use on our own at this time, but there is so much more we can access though we can’t prove how it works yet, ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/16 "2012-06-26T22:50:46Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > How so? I’ve met a very few people who say that they chose their religious identification because of how they were raised, but certainly the vast majority provide a different reason or reasons. Of course no religious adherent would say the main reason for their beliefs is because it’s how they were raised. That could call into questions the depth of their faith. Do you really think it’s a coincidence that the VAST majority of people observe only the faith they were raised with? If nurture plays no part, why, relatively speaking, is there such a tiny number of conversions? Come on, you know better. > [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Speaking only for myself, I was raised in an atheist household and converted to Christianity because I found all the facts pointing to the conclusion that Christian doctrine is true. I’ve never met any person who chose their religious identification because of fear, and only a very few who let 'comfort and fellowship" play any role in their decision. There isn’t a single genuine fact that logically “points to the conclusion that Christian doctrine is true.” Talk about correlation not equaling causation. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/17 "2012-06-26T22:53:30Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Let each person decide for themselves. Sort of like we create our own reality? ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/18 "2012-06-26T22:53:46Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I do believe science can be as indoctrinating and brainwashing as religion and is a atheistic religion of sorts. I wish more people were indoctrinated into facts and reality. ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/19 "2012-06-26T23:04:24Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > As for the OP, people who are invested in their delusions don’t want to give them up because you have to admit you’re wrong. No one likes looking like a fool. The faithful have also been raised with the threat of Hell if they don’t believe. When you consider most religions originally spread at the tip of a sword, how many could be convinced Santa Claus is real if threatened with death? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376/20 "2012-06-26T23:09:11Z")
> [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > The faithful have also been raised with the threat of Hell if they don’t believe. > > When you consider most religions originally spread at the tip of a sword, how many could be convinced Santa Claus is real if threatened with death? Good point. For that matter, how many people in North Korea believe in Dear Leader and his magic powers. Threats of suffering work wonders to motivate people. I know when I was a Christian, the fear of hell is what made my mind gloss over my doubts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-raised-to-believe-disease-was-caused-by-curses-would-you-still-believe-it-today/626376.md?page=2)