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In reply to the discussion: This filmmaker spent months interviewing neo-Nazis and jihadists. Here's what she learned. [View all]cynatnite
(31,011 posts)I grew up Baptist my entire life. I was hard core christian. I'm an atheist now and it took years to break myself of that kind of programming. It doesn't come undone overnight.
Keep in mind, not everyone is you. Not everyone thinks like you or me. For some, it's what they've known their entire lives and living outside of that is scary as hell. You're taught this and that about God, no matter how horrible it might be to us, but when it comes to trying to change your thinking, it's changing your entire person.
This is a long and difficult process. They have to find a way to turn their backs on everything they've ever known since childhood.
As a former Christian, I know how hard this is and no matter how much I hate the racism that comes from those types, I also know that breaking away from it is as hard of a thing than most could imagine.
To a degree it is choice, but trying to change that within yourself is easier said than done.