I have a little story to share. I live in a small town in Nunavut where everyone is a catholic. Why are they Catholic? It's pretty simple, they were brainwashed.
About 100 years ago, people were living their lives here, believing in what they always believed in. Their beliefs were primarily shaped by Shamans. One day, Catholic priests and nuns decided that they needed to come to the North and save everyone. They managed to convert most people and built a church. The nuns ran the school while the priest did his thing at the church.
Were are now in 2009 and most people here are still Catholic. Most people still go to Church every Sunday and prayers are always said before community feasts and events. I am probably the only one who does not cross themselves.
Here's the kicker. Every year, everyone who went to school here, while the nuns were 'teachers', receives a cheque. The cheque is compensation for the abuse the students suffered at the hands of the nuns.
Today we have no nuns but their work here obviously paid off and people have ignored the abuse I guess.
If the Catholic church did not force their way up here some 100 years ago, these people would still have their own set of beliefs. I do not teach religion and never will. I teach my kids to have an open mind and believe in whatever they want too. I try to show them that there are all kinds of different things to believe in and it is ultimately up to them.
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