Teach Your Children

[Anonymous]

that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

[Anonymous]

Better to say, "teach your children how to think and use reason" rather than brainwashing them into believing in bronze age myths.

Feel sorry for your kid, OP. I thought christians were supposed to be loving and kind...

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

Thank you for articulating this, OP.
I think it helps to attempt to understand the perspective of the other person.

And I think if you also stop to consider the other person’s perspective, it might help you to reframe your anger into something resembling compassion and even an odd sense of thankfulness for the heart of your child’s friend in that he obviously cares for your son or he would just “leave it alone” and say nothing.

I don’t think he intends to be “bullying” at all. But if a Christian truly believes what they profess to believe—which is that the only way to be with the Father in heaven is through relationship with Jesus Christ who died for our sins to take the punishment we all justly deserve FOR us in our place, then he believes this is true for his friend too—and he doesn’t want your friend to be left behind simply because he didn’t care enough to share with him and express concern.

So what you argue is “bullying” I would offer is an expression of true concern and attempt to rescue from a fate that no one would choose for their worst enemy—let alone a friend—which is eternal separation from God.

Using a different scenario for analogy, if the field behind your home were burning, and you were in imminent danger of being consumed by the fire—and I were to notice that you had no fire extinguishers or running water or hydrants and you didn’t know about the fire department or refused to contact them because you felt it was unnecessary….I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I just shrugged and watched your house and your family burn without attempting to help or call someone at the fire department to intervene.
You still may not listen and you still may refuse help—arguing that you’ll be fine and the fire is not a real threat. Which, of course, you are free to do.
But I don’t think you’d be sorry (and I certainly would not) if my efforts to get help or speak up actually wound up leading to action that eventually saved your home and family.
This is the mindset of a Christian.
Sometimes you must risk offending even (and especially!) those you dearly love on the chance that a greater good is possible to achieve—and it may only plant a seed….but in the end it’s worth the risk if the alternative is way worse.

Your child’s friend may appear brainwashed to you. And you argue that it’s rude and unkind for him to share his beliefs with your child.
But I argue that it would be rude and unkind for him NOT to if this is his true belief.
And to that friend, your child appears doomed. And he cares enough to want to reverse that.
It might infuriate you—but his heart is FOR your son, not against him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

The bolded is literally not true, unless you honestly believe that, say, Episcopalianism is no different from the Apostolic United Brethren, in which case...you need some serious help.

[Anonymous]

It's not rude to talk about religion.

If it's wrong to say it, maybe it's wrong to believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

The bolded is literally not true, unless you honestly believe that, say, Episcopalianism is no different from the Apostolic United Brethren, in which case...you need some serious help.

Stop. You know what OP was saying. She was encouraging compassion and tolerance and wishing the mini-zealot had learned the same from his religious community.

And personally, I have no idea what the difference is between the two groups you mentioned. Nor am I interested in finding out. I am a cultural Catholic and know there are fundamentalist factions in every religion. I prefer to generally wish everyone well in their faith of choice, or non-faith. I entirely support OP's point of view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

The bolded is literally not true, unless you honestly believe that, say, Episcopalianism is no different from the Apostolic United Brethren, in which case...you need some serious help.

They are all equal in their lack of evidence.

[Anonymous]

I taught my kids to never discuss religion with anyone. If asked, just say “my religion is private” and change the subject. We live in a multiethnic and diverse society. Kids should not be talking about religion!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

The bolded is literally not true, unless you honestly believe that, say, Episcopalianism is no different from the Apostolic United Brethren, in which case...you need some serious help.

Stop. You know what OP was saying. She was encouraging compassion and tolerance and wishing the mini-zealot had learned the same from his religious community.

And personally, I have no idea what the difference is between the two groups you mentioned. Nor am I interested in finding out. I am a cultural Catholic and know there are fundamentalist factions in every religion. I prefer to generally wish everyone well in their faith of choice, or non-faith. I entirely support OP's point of view.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

The bolded is literally not true, unless you honestly believe that, say, Episcopalianism is no different from the Apostolic United Brethren, in which case...you need some serious help.

Stop. You know what OP was saying. She was encouraging compassion and tolerance and wishing the mini-zealot had learned the same from his religious community.

And personally, I have no idea what the difference is between the two groups you mentioned. Nor am I interested in finding out. I am a cultural Catholic and know there are fundamentalist factions in every religion. I prefer to generally wish everyone well in their faith of choicei, or non-faith. I entirely support OP's point of view.

Now see, to me, as a fellow believer, this reads as selfish on your part, PP. You know the Truth and yet you want to keep it to yourself and for yourself because it’s more important for you to be seen as tolerant than it is for you to have a hand in bringing hearts to Christ and sharing in His kingdom.
I can understand why OP feels this way as a NON-believer, but I have zero understanding of how a believer can justify guy hiding their light and just “wishing everyone the best” when your faith and convictions tell you unequivocally that “the best” is not a possible outcome for a NON-believer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

The bolded is literally not true, unless you honestly believe that, say, Episcopalianism is no different from the Apostolic United Brethren, in which case...you need some serious help.

pp needs serious help for questioning OP's obvious motives.

[Anonymous]

Taking the argument that they are trying to help and do a kindness - what if my atheist kid decided to do to your kid what my kid perceived as a favor and tell them that their religion is a fairy tale run by a bunch of pedophiles and a complete waste of their time? I would imagine you wouldn’t be okay with that. That’s how the reverse feels too.