The plantation owner did not care if the slaves agreed with, or even believed what they were told, so long as they stayed in their place and did their work. A slave could have earnestly believed and agreed with everything the plantation owner told them, but if they slacked off on their work they still would have been punished.

In this modern world of media and psychology, the goal is not to make people believe and agree with the official narrative. The goal is to keep people engaged in their status quo routines; going to work, buying stuff, and watching TV. Being unhappy is acceptable, but not being unproductive.

In fact, it turns out that keeping people arguing with one another over slivers of differences in perspective is a good way to maintain the status quo. Especially when the status quo is centered on violence and war.

The constant argument keeps people from being able to focus on experimenting and building new routines. Making sure that people attack one another for trying anything different.

Changing the world is a long term effort of maintaining routines that express the would we wish to live in. Jesus would have grown old and comfortable if he just left the money changers tables alone.