text: does religion harden hearts and enslave minds?   depends on the religion and your definition of religion. i have a relationship with christ when i became a born-again christian 35 years ago, and i have never been more free. my freewill is intact and it is awesome to have assurance of eternal life.  the united states was founded on the precepts of the bible and the freedom in christ was the model for the founding fathers to pass on within its framework.