Is It Brainwashing or Just Religious Socialization?

A Nuanced Look at Mormon Childhood, Music, and What We Do to Ourselves

When I was Mormon, the word brainwashing felt like an insult. A cheap shot. A way outsiders dismissed my intelligence, my agency, and my sincerity. I hated the word. It felt dehumanizing.

Now in Ex-Mormon circles, I hear people say they were brainwashed and believing members respond with the same visceral rejection I once felt. The word detonates every c…