MIL trying to send MY Jewish kids to Bible camp!

[Anonymous]

This sound like something my MIL would do. I would be livid. But this is also based on my experience as a child. My southern baptist grandparents sent me to VBS and Sunday school when I visited. I was being raised Catholic. I was quizzed endlessly by the other kids and mocked for "worshipping Mary." It was uncomfortable, too say the least. I'm not okay with grandparents attempting to undermine the religious decisions of the parents and that's exactly what OP's in laws are trying to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or, I would tell her, "we would love for the kids to come visit you for the week but we are not comfortable with them attending bible camp. If that's a problem we will make alternate arrangements."

+1

Completely inappropriate, but I guess the reactions on this thread illustrate that some people don't get it-- just like most people don't understand what's annoying about the term "old testament" (or even "judeo-christian values"). (and fwiwi, I actually sent my kid to a pre-school run by a church but it was a younger age and they weren't there to learn religion).

NP: I get the problem with Judeo Christian values but what is wrong with old testament? Have never heard this before and would like to be educated.

It's not a term Jews would ever use because it's part of the whole idea that Judaism was made "obsolete" by Christianity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or, I would tell her, "we would love for the kids to come visit you for the week but we are not comfortable with them attending bible camp. If that's a problem we will make alternate arrangements."

+1

Completely inappropriate, but I guess the reactions on this thread illustrate that some people don't get it-- just like most people don't understand what's annoying about the term "old testament" (or even "judeo-christian values"). (and fwiwi, I actually sent my kid to a pre-school run by a church but it was a younger age and they weren't there to learn religion).

NP: I get the problem with Judeo Christian values but what is wrong with old testament? Have never heard this before and would like to be educated.

It's not a term Jews would ever use because it's part of the whole idea that Judaism was made "obsolete" by Christianity.

Thanks - I didn't know that and appreciate you taking time to respond.

[Anonymous]

OP, my .02:

This is outrageous. Your MIL has overstepped, no, ignored your boundaries. I'd not allow your DC to attend this camp.


Interesting to note that I'm one of those "scary" evangelical Christians myself and a later in life churchgoer/main line Protestant.

I've not only coordinated and organized all aspects of VBS, but also volunteered and sent my own DC to VBS.

No secret - VBS is a ministry, an evangelization tool. Your children will hear bible verses and prayers and bible stories and a great deal about Jesus. My own DC accepted Jesus as his personal savior during VBS, and there was great excitement and celebrating and support.

Here's the difference; I'm raising my children Christian. You're not. I think your DC will feel most uncomfortable and that's unfair to them and unkind of MIL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for kids learning about different religions and their beliefs. I'd send my kids to a camp where they learned about a different religion each day of the week, in a purely non-proselytizing way. But that's not what the in-laws signed up the Jewish grandchildren for.

Are you the OP? If not, stop projecting your own predjudices.

What prejudices? I'm not saying that the inlaws are trying to convert the kids. My point is that the camp is specific to one religion, not an attempt to teach children of all faiths about all faiths.

[Anonymous]

16:30 here. I was coming from the perspective of learning and being tolerant of other religions. That is what I was taught at home and in hebrew school. However, if the goal of VBS is to accept Jesus, then no way would I want my kids there. If that is the case then I would cancel the trip. Your MIL cannot be trusted and she does not respect DH or your decision to raise YOUR kids Jewish. Heck I would not let her have any time alone with her grandkids ever again. Maybe she will get that attempting to convert them equals no access.

[Anonymous]

So what sort of things have you signed your kids up for to give your in laws a break? Church camp is typically free and if you didn't make any arrangements except that you were dropping your kids off with their grandparents, who most likely realize that they won't be able to keep up with your kids for a week because they are not used to nonstop kids for 24 hours a day, then shame on you and good for them for figuring out something to make this work.

[Anonymous]

While I disagree with your MIL's choice, cut her some slack. Neither my parents or my in-laws would ever have agreed to take my kids for a weekend, let alone a week. For that you should be very grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how many of you MIL supporting posters would be cool with Muslim inlaws surprise signing up their Jewish grandkids for a week of Koran camp at a time when it will hugely impact their parents to find other arrangements.

Are you kidding? You're implying that we're pro-Christian and anti-Muslim because...?

For starters, I wouldn't ask my in-laws to take my kids for a full week without talking with them about what they'd be doing. That's a long time to have kids with no structured activities planned. I'd want my kids to be safe and well-cared for (reasonably happy, reasonably rested, etc.), and how they did that is up to them.

I'm implying that people are cool with this because they're Christian and don't see anything wrong with bible camp.

PP you're quoting and nope: total atheist. Raised Unitarian, which may be why I don't get fervent adherence to a particular faith. Learning about other religions doesn't threaten my (lack of) beliefs. It's what I grew up doing.

[Anonymous]

Where does DH stand in this debate, OP?

Also, I get that Judiasm passes through the mother, but I'd be more sympathetic if you had titled your post OUR children and not MY children. In a mixed religion family, it is fair for both spouses to want kids to understand something of their religious identity. Even if they are being "raised" in one religion.

[Anonymous]

I think there is a basic misunderstanding among many PPs where they assume it is okay to expose a Jewish child to an evangelical environment. Proselytizing is extremely offensive to Jews. Jews have spent centuries being forced to convert under the threat of torture and any attempt to coerce Jews to worship Jesus is considered repugnant. It is not a matter of exposing the kids to a different faith, it is clearly an attempt to convert them. It is also not the same as a Christian kid going to a Jewish camp because Jews don't proselytize. This is just so highly offensive of the MIL to do this.

[Anonymous]

No, you don't send Jewish kids to a place where they are expected to worship Jesus. That is offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where does DH stand in this debate, OP?

Also, I get that Judiasm passes through the mother, but I'd be more sympathetic if you had titled your post OUR children and not MY children. In a mixed religion family, it is fair for both spouses to want kids to understand something of their religious identity. Even if they are being "raised" in one religion.

This is such nonsense and so is the comment by the PP who said the children are half Christian. It's not a mixed religion family. The children are JEWISH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where does DH stand in this debate, OP?

Also, I get that Judiasm passes through the mother, but I'd be more sympathetic if you had titled your post OUR children and not MY children. In a mixed religion family, it is fair for both spouses to want kids to understand something of their religious identity. Even if they are being "raised" in one religion.

This is such nonsense and so is the comment by the PP who said the children are half Christian. It's not a mixed religion family. The children are JEWISH.

Half the family is christian.

They all worship the same god.

No big deal.

It wouldnt bother me if it was DD going to another religion camp. It's just a few hours. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would cancel just because F HER for doing that.

+1

If my kids expressed interest in a religious camp because a friend was going then I'd be ok with it (as an atheist). But not just because some MIL with an agenda wanted to send them to one. F her.