We are all programmed by our culture. We wouldn't think of eating dog meat, people, insects, snake or horse meat, yet millions of people do with great gusto. Yet the American pilot shot down in Yugoslavia survived eating insects. Survival was important to him, more important than cultural ideas. What I'm getting at is millions of people have beliefs they would die or kill for which make no sense at all.
Many religions glorify a hereafter to get people to die in battle or give money.
All work by programming the mind by eliciting emotions and by repetition, especially from authority figures. We are all programmed. It only works if the person is receptive to the change. If you are going to change someone's religion or politics, you'll have to do so with the cooperation of the conscious mind. You don't change basic beliefs or morals with hypnosis.