Inviting irreligious and Jewish/Muslim friends to a church event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just some food for thought, OP, but what would the difference be if a parent didn't want their child around your family for celebrations/sleepovers/parties because you are atheist and thought a sleepover might turn into you or your child mocking their beliefs and attempting to convert them to atheism?
Sounds kind of far-fetched and hysterical right?
I realize it is an imperfect example but just something to think about.

This would be a good analogy if the OP were inviting a child to an event at the Atheist Center.

Not all churches try to convert visitors. But some do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just some food for thought, OP, but what would the difference be if a parent didn't want their child around your family for celebrations/sleepovers/parties because you are atheist and thought a sleepover might turn into you or your child mocking their beliefs and attempting to convert them to atheism?
Sounds kind of far-fetched and hysterical right?
I realize it is an imperfect example but just something to think about.

This would be a good analogy if the OP were inviting a child to an event at the Atheist Center.

Not all churches try to convert visitors. But some do.

I didn't even know there was an Atheist Center, hence the imperfect example as I stated.

[Anonymous]

Despite the name, they are not locking the kids in a room until they convert.

I'm pretty skeptical about religion, having grown up with a mom trying to force the evangelical stuff. But it's about providing a space for preteens/teens to have a night of clean supervised conservative fun that doesn't involve alcohol, smoking, and sex. It's more for the church kids to feel they can have clean fun with their non-religious friends than expecting pizza and PG movies to convert anyone. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

If it was at a liberal (small "L") church, like mainline Episcopal, Presbyterian (USA, not the others), UU, UCC, ELCA Lutheran - I would be fine. But no Nigerian Anglican breakaway Episcopal, Presbyterian CHurch in America, McLran Bible, Missouri or Minnesota Synod Lutheran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just some food for thought, OP, but what would the difference be if a parent didn't want their child around your family for celebrations/sleepovers/parties because you are atheist and thought a sleepover might turn into you or your child mocking their beliefs and attempting to convert them to atheism?
Sounds kind of far-fetched and hysterical right?
I realize it is an imperfect example but just something to think about.

This would be a good analogy if the OP were inviting a child to an event at the Atheist Center.

Not all churches try to convert visitors. But some do.

I didn't even know there was an Atheist Center, hence the imperfect example as I stated.

There isn't actually an Atheist Center. Or, anyway, there isn't one, as far as I know.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the church, your sensibilities, and your child's maturity level. Agree that some churches will be creepy and aggressive but not most for this kind of thing. These are usually fun, safe, supervised and wholesome events. Ask the parents what to expect.

Pretty much any church will have a prayer or two to frame the evening. If being around other people's religion bothers you, this may be a no-go. But if you just don't care that much about religion, it could be an educational event for your daughter. Just have a talk with her beforehand about what to expect. "some people believe X. I don't, and your daddy doesn't. But the people at your friend's church probably do."

I went to one of these with my catholic boyfriend in high school. We did find a quiet spot to make out away from the supervisors. But no one was converted. There was pizza and some teen movie.

[Anonymous]

Another musing here...at Christmas especially but year round, too, we have crosses in our home, Bible on the mantle, a beautiful pen and ink drawing of Mary and Baby Jesus, at Christmas we have a manger scene, etc etc. I Are you also against having your child at a religious environment such as my home?
I understand your concern, sort of, but am wondering where the line would be

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just some food for thought, OP, but what would the difference be if a parent didn't want their child around your family for celebrations/sleepovers/parties because you are atheist and thought a sleepover might turn into you or your child mocking their beliefs and attempting to convert them to atheism?
Sounds kind of far-fetched and hysterical right?
I realize it is an imperfect example but just something to think about.

This would be a good analogy if the OP were inviting a child to an event at the Atheist Center.

Not all churches try to convert visitors. But some do.

I didn't even know there was an Atheist Center, hence the imperfect example as I stated.

There isn't actually an Atheist Center. Or, anyway, there isn't one, as far as I know.

Yes, that is why with atheism it is tricky, because there is no church/synagogue, etc so my example was of their home being the center of the atheist belief, and turned the tables a bit on what sort of "danger" there was in that or if they had thought that through at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another musing here...at Christmas especially but year round, too, we have crosses in our home, Bible on the mantle, a beautiful pen and ink drawing of Mary and Baby Jesus, at Christmas we have a manger scene, etc etc. I Are you also against having your child at a religious environment such as my home?
I understand your concern, sort of, but am wondering where the line would be

Not OP, but the issue isn't one of being around people who are religious, or being in an environment where the religion is apparent. It's an issue of whether the intent of the event is to convert or proselytize, or whether there will be a significant religious component to the event. Presumably when you invite other kids to your home you're not having conversations with them about Jesus or asking them to pray with you, but those things are possible (or likely, depending on the church) at the event OP's daughter was invited to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another musing here...at Christmas especially but year round, too, we have crosses in our home, Bible on the mantle, a beautiful pen and ink drawing of Mary and Baby Jesus, at Christmas we have a manger scene, etc etc. I Are you also against having your child at a religious environment such as my home?
I understand your concern, sort of, but am wondering where the line would be

Not OP, but the issue isn't one of being around people who are religious, or being in an environment where the religion is apparent. It's an issue of whether the intent of the event is to convert or proselytize, or whether there will be a significant religious component to the event. Presumably when you invite other kids to your home you're not having conversations with them about Jesus or asking them to pray with you, but those things are possible (or likely, depending on the church) at the event OP's daughter was invited to.

And btw, I'm a PP in this thread who is Jewish and feel that, depending on the church and what could be expected from the event, I'd be inclined to let my child attend. Exposure to another religion in that context is fine with me when it's just a minor piece of a fun event with his friends and the intent is not to teach or indoctrinate. But if I thought that you would be talking to my child about Jesus or asking him to pray with you in your home, then yes - I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my child at your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just some food for thought, OP, but what would the difference be if a parent didn't want their child around your family for celebrations/sleepovers/parties because you are atheist and thought a sleepover might turn into you or your child mocking their beliefs and attempting to convert them to atheism?
Sounds kind of far-fetched and hysterical right?
I realize it is an imperfect example but just something to think about.

This would be a good analogy if the OP were inviting a child to an event at the Atheist Center.

Not all churches try to convert visitors. But some do.

I didn't even know there was an Atheist Center, hence the imperfect example as I stated.

There isn't actually an Atheist Center. Or, anyway, there isn't one, as far as I know.

There are Ethical Societies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just some food for thought, OP, but what would the difference be if a parent didn't want their child around your family for celebrations/sleepovers/parties because you are atheist and thought a sleepover might turn into you or your child mocking their beliefs and attempting to convert them to atheism?
Sounds kind of far-fetched and hysterical right?
I realize it is an imperfect example but just something to think about.

This would be a good analogy if the OP were inviting a child to an event at the Atheist Center.

Not all churches try to convert visitors. But some do.

I didn't even know there was an Atheist Center, hence the imperfect example as I stated.

There isn't actually an Atheist Center. Or, anyway, there isn't one, as far as I know.

Yes, that is why with atheism it is tricky, because there is no church/synagogue, etc so my example was of their home being the center of the atheist belief, and turned the tables a bit on what sort of "danger" there was in that or if they had thought that through at all

Most atheists I know that want a community go to the Ethical Society or a UU Congregation.

[Anonymous]

I am a lifelong Episcopalian. I went to lock ins a my church as a kid, as a tween and young teen. Lock in refers to the doors were locked so kids if they left they couldn't come back, no coming and going. Ours were slumber parties, there were movies, checkers, card games, lots of junk food, etc. No bible beating mumbo jumbo.

I agree it depends on the denomination. Episcopalian church's are pretty welcoming to all others and laid back, but Anglians are a bit preachy. My fears would be supervision, not whether my child would suddenly want rosary beads or a Torah or whatever.

Find out about the church, call the youth minister and ask. I don't think there is a widespread conspiracy theory to convert Tweens to new religions via lock ins.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your child's age. If she's older and you can discuss whatever she might have been exposed to, I don't see what the big deal is. They're not going to convert her overnight!

FWIW I was sent to a religious high school that wasn't if my faith, and it was an awesome experience. I learned a lot, most importantly how to be a critical thinker when it comes to religion and also to respect difference. And after 4 years, they didn't convert me!

I think people are WAY too paranoid about religion!
It's not an orgy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the church. If it was at our Episcopal church, I'd say "go ahead". If its at some of the other denominations, then your spidey sense is possibly right. At our church they sometimes have teen "lock ins" which usually involve pizza and a movie in a supervised setting.

I grew up Carholic. We had lock-ins. Think sleep-over but at a church. There will be talk about right versus wrong, stuff like that, with a Christian overtone - readings from the bible. Depending on the church and youth leader, it may have a heavy Christian overtone. Honestly, there's a wide range from being mostly movies and fun with some talking about being good in general (drugs, sex, bullying) to "praise Jesus" evangelical focused. You could ask the friends patents what type it us.
The ones I went to were mostly fun. I did go to a couple that were heavily conversion oriented though.