MIL trying to send MY Jewish kids to Bible camp!

[Anonymous]

Don't Jews believe in the Old Testament? My recollection of Bible school/Bible camp is that there were a lot of Old Testament stories--Garden of Eden, The whole life of Moses, etc. I doubt they will be come out as Christian terrorists. If you didn't want your children to be exposed to Christianity then you should have married within your religious faith.

I bet you are always going on about diversity unless it has a direct effect on your life.

[Anonymous]

I married the man I love and we have been 100% in agreement on how to raise our children since before they were born. We agreed to raise them Jewish, we agreed to not have them baptized or attending Bible camp. His mother is not happy, but it's really not her choice. Repeatedly trying to undermine our decision doesn't show a problem with our marriage, she's disrespecting our choice for our kids. I hope that whatever my kids chose for themselves and their children some day I will simply respect and not try to undermine. Isn't that what we all want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why all these pps are ok with Jewish kids going to Christian camp. I am Orthodox Christian, and there is no way my kids are going to Catholic school or camp, even if it is free or "just for a break for grandma." If it is really that Grandma needs a little daily break, OP should have paid for some camp for kids that they both agree on.

Well, you might take religion more seriously than some of us.

And, you know, if you are mixing religions in a marriage you can't be that religious. Unless the other spouse converted which I don't think is the case.
We had friends who said they celebrated 'birthmas' or 'chrismukkak' or 'Festivus' or whatever. Totally made up holidays they mostly just celebrated being with family on holidays - they weren't really into the specific religious ceremonies as one parent was Catholic and one Jewish.

Same pp as above. I didn't mix different Christian branches in "marriage." Married another Orthodox Christian, it just happened that way, it is a love match. It depends on occasion how religious I am, some days not at all and some days more so. I view religion more as a tradition that is used to maintain customs and build family strength. But I do have atheist BIL and SIL who are now going to church every Sunday to give their kids options. I must admit, I don't quite understand their reasoning, but to each their own.

What the heck is an "Orthodox Christian"? The first Christians were Catholics. The first Protestants were Lutherans. There are Greek Orthodox. To say one Christian denomination is more "Orthodox" is ridiculous.

I find it interesting that you would broadcast your lack of education so easily. First Christians were what? Catholics? Really? I don't think so. There are Greek Orthodox only? Wow. You shouldn't write about things you know nothing about, I am embarrassed for you.

+1

-Atheist not raised with any religion but at least I know this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I married the man I love and we have been 100% in agreement on how to raise our children since before they were born. We agreed to raise them Jewish, we agreed to not have them baptized or attending Bible camp. His mother is not happy, but it's really not her choice. Repeatedly trying to undermine our decision doesn't show a problem with our marriage, she's disrespecting our choice for our kids. I hope that whatever my kids chose for themselves and their children some day I will simply respect and not try to undermine. Isn't that what we all want?

Yup!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I married the man I love and we have been 100% in agreement on how to raise our children since before they were born. We agreed to raise them Jewish, we agreed to not have them baptized or attending Bible camp. His mother is not happy, but it's really not her choice. Repeatedly trying to undermine our decision doesn't show a problem with our marriage, she's disrespecting our choice for our kids. I hope that whatever my kids chose for themselves and their children some day I will simply respect and not try to undermine. Isn't that what we all want?

No, you won't. You are already the sterotypical Jewish Mother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I married the man I love and we have been 100% in agreement on how to raise our children since before they were born. We agreed to raise them Jewish, we agreed to not have them baptized or attending Bible camp. His mother is not happy, but it's really not her choice. Repeatedly trying to undermine our decision doesn't show a problem with our marriage, she's disrespecting our choice for our kids. I hope that whatever my kids chose for themselves and their children some day I will simply respect and not try to undermine. Isn't that what we all want?

May I ask if your husband converted if you are 100% on board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I married the man I love and we have been 100% in agreement on how to raise our children since before they were born. We agreed to raise them Jewish, we agreed to not have them baptized or attending Bible camp. His mother is not happy, but it's really not her choice. Repeatedly trying to undermine our decision doesn't show a problem with our marriage, she's disrespecting our choice for our kids. I hope that whatever my kids chose for themselves and their children some day I will simply respect and not try to undermine. Isn't that what we all want?

Good job, OP! Ignore the people who seem to really not get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Jews on this thread questioning ops choice of marriage to a man who fully agreed to raise her kids Jewish and are on the same page as her are just as offensive as the Christian insensitives saying op should open up her horizons to Jesus camp. Ops kids are Jewish, and if she married a Jew maybe she would be on this board complaining about her neurotic overbearing Jewish mother in law on some other matter.

There's no reason to assume that those PPs are Jewish.

[Anonymous]

how are the kids not being raised jewish if they attend a bible camp? They learn that every house has its rules and get a broader world view that what one narrow religion provides.

In the end the kids decide themselves how religious they want to be
In the name of tolerance this is a good thing, and most surely a worthwhile experience. Religion is far too narrow. Perhaps you could suggest to volunteer on a few mornings and see what is going on

[Anonymous]

Your MIL had no right to sign your kids up for any camp without you and your DH knowing about it. IMO it's as much about the underhanded approach as anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I married the man I love and we have been 100% in agreement on how to raise our children since before they were born. We agreed to raise them Jewish, we agreed to not have them baptized or attending Bible camp. His mother is not happy, but it's really not her choice. Repeatedly trying to undermine our decision doesn't show a problem with our marriage, she's disrespecting our choice for our kids. I hope that whatever my kids chose for themselves and their children some day I will simply respect and not try to undermine. Isn't that what we all want?

No, you won't. You are already the sterotypical Jewish Mother.

Wow that's anti semetic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I married the man I love and we have been 100% in agreement on how to raise our children since before they were born. We agreed to raise them Jewish, we agreed to not have them baptized or attending Bible camp. His mother is not happy, but it's really not her choice. Repeatedly trying to undermine our decision doesn't show a problem with our marriage, she's disrespecting our choice for our kids. I hope that whatever my kids chose for themselves and their children some day I will simply respect and not try to undermine. Isn't that what we all want?

May I ask if your husband converted if you are 100% on board?

NP. I'm Jewish, and my non-Jewish husband didn't become a Jew when we got married. We agreed when we were engaged that we would raise our kids Jewish. Ten years in, and the plan is still firm. Neither of our families has a problem with this, either. I don't understand why PPs are confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with your kids going to bible camp? Even if you're raising your kids Jewish it doesn't mean they can't set foot in a church. If anything the bible camp is mostly fun and games. They will sing some songs. Why isolate your kids when they are visiting inlaws and not let them attend?

Nothing. If that is the agreement the parents made. These kids are Jews, because that is the agreement the parents made.

I would be crazed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jewish kids don't belong at Christian bible camp. It's not just another cross cultural experience for them. Anyone who can't get that is thick.

Thick here. Why not?

There are certainly camps run by religiously affiliated organizations that are fine. I.e. Lego camp at the jcc. My son went to preschool at a church, including summer camp. It was not billed as bible camp, and they did not preach. That would s fine. There are other programs that are expressly religious, and those are for insiders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all agree that op wants her kids to be Jewish. My question to you, Op is why didn't you marry a Jew? Why are you ignoring this question?

Not op, but I am Jewish. Our kids are Jewish and my husband, their dad, is not. I married the very good man I fell for.

When our dating became less casual, we agreed this is what we would do. I would have broken up otherwise. My husband did some learning, talked to friends and agreed. He remains an atheist, and we have always belonged to synagogues that accept families like ours.