I think that most of the "mainline" religions have gone beyond the "mindless sheep" paradigm in the last fifty years or more. Certainly, there are still people in every religion who want to be sheep; and there are leaders seeking followers who are sheep - but for the most part, the Catholics and "mainline" religions have gotten beyond that.
Even the recent Catholic documents on abortion and birth control are quite balanced. They are written in a rational fashion that invites discussion. Catholics still excommunicate members, but they're much more polite about it nowadays. Usually, the stiffest punishment the Catholic Church administers nowadays, is revoking a theologian's license to teach.

Many of the evangelical pastors still use "harangue" as a technique, and seem to demand far greater adherence to their preaching.

I think it's fair to say that some people have always been sheep, and they always will be sheep. They're afraid to think for themselves, and there will always be some leader eager to lead them.

But - and this is important - people who have the capacity to think for themselves, have always thought for themselves. St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), child of Spanish Jewish parents who converted to Christianity, was an intellectual giant who combined Jewish and Christian mysticism. She was threatened by the Spanish Inquisition, but she prevailed. In the process, she and St. John of the Cross reformed the Carmelite Order, which had become rich, lazy, and corrupt.

-Joe-