Do Christmas displays make you uncomfortable?

[Anonymous]

Makes me feel warm and cozy inside. It’s a federal holiday. It’s secular. The parts that are religious- church, nativity, Jesus’s birth are more private. I agree that nativities don’t belong at schools but I see no issue with a Christmas tree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I enjoy the spirit of the season. These days we need things that can make us smile.

-Muslim

I absolutely agree. I also feel the need to smile, and I’ll take it anywhere I can get it, even if it doesn’t come from my own belief system or culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

If you would give your money to the government, the atheists would be willing to oversee the distribution. Remember, all largess flows from the government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

I would love for you to be nice to kids. Too bad you can't seem to do it without strings attached.

(and last year I organized the gifts for our school in the past so I do plenty. )

[Anonymous]

No, love it!!! As a non-Christian, it is a charming commercial holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

I would love for you to be nice to kids. Too bad you can't seem to do it without strings attached.

(and last year I organized the gifts for our school in the past so I do plenty. )

DP. Why do you assume Christians need to attach strings? I volunteer regularly. Sometimes it is through my church and sometimes it is as an individual. Both are equally important to me and, hopefully, meaningful to the community at large.

It isn’t clear to me why you have to put down Christians trying to do something nice through their churches. As long as people are putting good into the world, does it matter? You can choose to ignore any religious message. The good is still there, even if you reject a small part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The shoeboxes are delivered and fully used for indoctrination. Not everyone wants to participate in such "missions".

Pls show some - any! - evidence of this practice.

This is straight from their website, its literally a mission.
"Praising God for 30 Years of Operation Christmas Child"

"What is Operation Christmas Child?

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations."

"The Amazing Journey of a Shoebox Gift Begins with You and Results in Evangelism, Discipleship, and Multiplication."

Disgusting.

There is nothing wrong by showing people the love God instructs those who love Him to have for our brothers and sisters.

Let me guess: if Christians do nothing- they are hypocrites. If they do things to show love to others, they are disgusting.

People are allowed to put their time, money, and effort into showing others they are religious, doing things their religion/God asks them to do, and telling others about their relationship with God.

If you don’t like it, fine, but there is nothing disgusting about it.

+1 and I'm not very religious. No one is trying to drag a person's child to their religious "side" by having a gift sharing event.

People send school supplies, pencils, paper, clothes, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soccer balls and soccer ball pumps, as well as toys. We take such things for for granted.

Religious people can donate the shoebox gifts
Atheists can donate the shoebox gifts
Any person of any religion or no religion can donate the shoebox gifts
Public or private or home school
The focus is on sharing your heart with a child in a small way and caring about the child who receives something that will make them smile.
If any organization was collecting and coordinating such an event, I would donate. I don’t have to personally support the organization; it’s not the organization I want to make smile.

If there is an atheist or humanist organization who collects and arranges for the distribution of something like this- what is it and how can I donate? Would the people here who have issues with Operation christmas child consider supporting that org?

A school offering jackets and/or small presents to kids who want them during the holiday season is one thing.

The shoebox thing is an organized evangelical attempt to bribe young kids around the world to bring their vulnerable families to hear a religious pitch:
"Other churches use the boxes as resources for outreach in orphanages and other at-risk areas. In many places, they also offer The Greatest Gift, a Gospel story booklet Samaritan’s Purse developed for shoebox recipients, and invite children to participate in The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

As a result of what they learn in The Greatest Journey, boys and girls grow in Christ and share with friends and family. The students also invite others to their graduations where the Gospel is shared. This often brings parents, siblings, and friends to accept Christ and become active members in the local church. Families are reached, churches grow, new churches are started, and communities are transformed. Go Deeper ￫"
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/the-journey-of-a-shoebox/

It's a recruiting effort using unethical practices.

You want to do a good thing? Send the gifts and pat yourself on the back. Don't use them to manipulate people.

So don’t participate.

Are there atheist or humanist groups that collect and donate gifts to needy children? If so what are they? I can’t find any online to donate to.I sponsor several children in need in Africa; I donate to Operation Christmas Child, I donate to many charities, we sponsor several kids from the Angel tree.

Offering someone a booklet about God isn’t taking advantage or proselytizing- it’s telling people who you are, it’s telling others about God. Nobody is forced to do or say anything to receive a shoebox gift. I don’t put any religious toys, books, or paperwork in the boxes I donate.

When these boxes are distributed, the kids most likely just enjoy the boxes of gifts.

"it starts with a shoebox and ends up with a bible in their hand"

Very unethical practices.

95% of people in Papua New Guinea are already Christian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Papua_New_Guinea. If this was happening somewhere like Algeria you might have a point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The shoeboxes are delivered and fully used for indoctrination. Not everyone wants to participate in such "missions".

Pls show some - any! - evidence of this practice.

This is straight from their website, its literally a mission.
"Praising God for 30 Years of Operation Christmas Child"

"What is Operation Christmas Child?

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations."

"The Amazing Journey of a Shoebox Gift Begins with You and Results in Evangelism, Discipleship, and Multiplication."

Disgusting.

There is nothing wrong by showing people the love God instructs those who love Him to have for our brothers and sisters.

Let me guess: if Christians do nothing- they are hypocrites. If they do things to show love to others, they are disgusting.

People are allowed to put their time, money, and effort into showing others they are religious, doing things their religion/God asks them to do, and telling others about their relationship with God.

If you don’t like it, fine, but there is nothing disgusting about it.

+1 and I'm not very religious. No one is trying to drag a person's child to their religious "side" by having a gift sharing event.

Co-mingling religion and gifts (or medical care) for vulnerable/young people is unethical.

Share gifts? Great. Keep religion out of it.

Honestly it’s up to the giver to either share or not share their religion. The gift recipient can choose to learn more or ignore the religious part. There’s nothing wrong with Operation Christmas Child.

Would you prefer this donation campaign not exist? You are so against religion you want to live in a comfortable and safe country and demand children in less than optimal situations not even receive a small box of items because Christians send it?

They are doing more than giving out gifts. They are pressuring vulnerable people to listen to their religious spiel.

Agreed. This conversion pressure is just imperialism still alive and well. So gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

I would love for you to be nice to kids. Too bad you can't seem to do it without strings attached.

(and last year I organized the gifts for our school in the past so I do plenty. )

^ Oh, and I also handle other donations and one outwardly religious couple wanted to make sure that their fairly large donation was going to the shared school programs, but not helping any individual kids (for the gifts and a "scholarship" that is provided). They even said they would stop donating in the future if that happened. So generous of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The shoeboxes are delivered and fully used for indoctrination. Not everyone wants to participate in such "missions".

Pls show some - any! - evidence of this practice.

This is straight from their website, its literally a mission.
"Praising God for 30 Years of Operation Christmas Child"

"What is Operation Christmas Child?

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations."

"The Amazing Journey of a Shoebox Gift Begins with You and Results in Evangelism, Discipleship, and Multiplication."

Disgusting.

There is nothing wrong by showing people the love God instructs those who love Him to have for our brothers and sisters.

Let me guess: if Christians do nothing- they are hypocrites. If they do things to show love to others, they are disgusting.

People are allowed to put their time, money, and effort into showing others they are religious, doing things their religion/God asks them to do, and telling others about their relationship with God.

If you don’t like it, fine, but there is nothing disgusting about it.

+1 and I'm not very religious. No one is trying to drag a person's child to their religious "side" by having a gift sharing event.

People send school supplies, pencils, paper, clothes, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soccer balls and soccer ball pumps, as well as toys. We take such things for for granted.

Religious people can donate the shoebox gifts
Atheists can donate the shoebox gifts
Any person of any religion or no religion can donate the shoebox gifts
Public or private or home school
The focus is on sharing your heart with a child in a small way and caring about the child who receives something that will make them smile.
If any organization was collecting and coordinating such an event, I would donate. I don’t have to personally support the organization; it’s not the organization I want to make smile.

If there is an atheist or humanist organization who collects and arranges for the distribution of something like this- what is it and how can I donate? Would the people here who have issues with Operation christmas child consider supporting that org?

A school offering jackets and/or small presents to kids who want them during the holiday season is one thing.

The shoebox thing is an organized evangelical attempt to bribe young kids around the world to bring their vulnerable families to hear a religious pitch:
"Other churches use the boxes as resources for outreach in orphanages and other at-risk areas. In many places, they also offer The Greatest Gift, a Gospel story booklet Samaritan’s Purse developed for shoebox recipients, and invite children to participate in The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

As a result of what they learn in The Greatest Journey, boys and girls grow in Christ and share with friends and family. The students also invite others to their graduations where the Gospel is shared. This often brings parents, siblings, and friends to accept Christ and become active members in the local church. Families are reached, churches grow, new churches are started, and communities are transformed. Go Deeper ￫"
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/the-journey-of-a-shoebox/

It's a recruiting effort using unethical practices.

You want to do a good thing? Send the gifts and pat yourself on the back. Don't use them to manipulate people.

So don’t participate.

Are there atheist or humanist groups that collect and donate gifts to needy children? If so what are they? I can’t find any online to donate to.I sponsor several children in need in Africa; I donate to Operation Christmas Child, I donate to many charities, we sponsor several kids from the Angel tree.

Offering someone a booklet about God isn’t taking advantage or proselytizing- it’s telling people who you are, it’s telling others about God. Nobody is forced to do or say anything to receive a shoebox gift. I don’t put any religious toys, books, or paperwork in the boxes I donate.

When these boxes are distributed, the kids most likely just enjoy the boxes of gifts.

"it starts with a shoebox and ends up with a bible in their hand"

Very unethical practices.

95% of people in Papua New Guinea are already Christian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Papua_New_Guinea. If this was happening somewhere like Algeria you might have a point.

The guy says "over 50% of the kids give their lives to jesus christ for the first time".

And they talk about changing their culture and "now that we have this church here people are changing their lives".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

I would love for you to be nice to kids. Too bad you can't seem to do it without strings attached.

(and last year I organized the gifts for our school in the past so I do plenty. )

^ Oh, and I also handle other donations and one outwardly religious couple wanted to make sure that their fairly large donation was going to the shared school programs, but not helping any individual kids (for the gifts and a "scholarship" that is provided). They even said they would stop donating in the future if that happened. So generous of them.

So, just to clarify, are you condemning all religious people because of the actions of this couple?

And I assume they still donated, correct? So it isn’t as if they were being stingy, like so many people are? Would it have been better if they didn’t donate at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

I would love for you to be nice to kids. Too bad you can't seem to do it without strings attached.

(and last year I organized the gifts for our school in the past so I do plenty. )

DP. Why do you assume Christians need to attach strings? I volunteer regularly. Sometimes it is through my church and sometimes it is as an individual. Both are equally important to me and, hopefully, meaningful to the community at large.

It isn’t clear to me why you have to put down Christians trying to do something nice through their churches. As long as people are putting good into the world, does it matter? You can choose to ignore any religious message. The good is still there, even if you reject a small part of it.

We are specifically discussing the christmas shoeboxes (the video). Not generic volunteering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

I would love for you to be nice to kids. Too bad you can't seem to do it without strings attached.

(and last year I organized the gifts for our school in the past so I do plenty. )

^ Oh, and I also handle other donations and one outwardly religious couple wanted to make sure that their fairly large donation was going to the shared school programs, but not helping any individual kids (for the gifts and a "scholarship" that is provided). They even said they would stop donating in the future if that happened. So generous of them.

So, just to clarify, are you condemning all religious people because of the actions of this couple?

And I assume they still donated, correct? So it isn’t as if they were being stingy, like so many people are? Would it have been better if they didn’t donate at all?

I'm just sharing my observations.

Everyone else was able to donate and not restrict it from helping kids who needed some extra help. We had to do extra work because they were being jerks about it. Fortunately, their kids aren't back this year. They moved to Catholic school - shocker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:41 "changing the culture"
3:00 "a gift no one can refuse"

Like the Godfather: “I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” but it’s toys and hygiene items and pencils.

Note the atheists complaining aren’t actually doing anything but complaining. They aren’t starting Operation Atheist Gift Child. They just don’t want Christians to be nice to kids.

I am someone who objected above. I don’t happen to be atheist but there are plenty of organizations that I participate with that are either secular or that don’t proselytize and plenty of atheists who give through those.