Would you let your DC go to an away summer camp run by a different church/religion?

[Anonymous]

We are Presbyterian. I would not do evangelical churches' camps. They too typically teach the opposite of what Christ actually taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about a camp run by the Seventh Day Adventists? if you are not Adventist?

I'd put that in the Southern Baptist/Evangelical/Chabad/JW category of organizations I don't trust not to evangelize.

Are you saying the SDA preaches hate or just tries to convert kids at camp?

I am saying that they evangelize (try to convert). I wouldn't send my kid to any camp where I'd worry that the might be encouraged to change their beliefs, regardless of what I thought about those beliefs. I also wouldn't send my kid to an organization that preached hate (e.g. KKK chess camp would be a "no"), but in my experience religious organizations that preach hate are a subset of organizations that preach that their way is the only way.

And before someone jumps in about Muslims, I will say that I agree that there are Muslim groups that teach that their way is the only way, and also Muslim groups that preach hate. However, I've never run into a situation where the Wahabis (for example) are holding a summer camp and claiming it's just about soccer, so I've never had to make that decision. If someone knows of such a camp, I'd encourage them to post the link, because I'm curious.

[Anonymous]

I didn't know that SDA was considered evangelical.

[Anonymous]

I'm with the PPs. Raised Catholic. Now agnostic. Kids not raised in a religion. I think their are two types of "religious camp". Those that emphasize the camp piece, and where the primary purpose is traditional camp activities and religion does not play a big role in what the kids do Day to day. But they are run by an organization to serve the community (YMCA) and in accordance with religious beliefs. Saying grace. A Jewish camp with kosher food, etc. I'm fine with that.

But some camps put the emphasis on the religion piece, rather than the camp piece. They religious teachings as a primary activity and serve as a recruitment for new members. And no, I would not be comfortable sending my kids to one of these. It puts them in a bad position of being asked to accept something at odds with how they have been raised.

And sadly, I agree on the Southern Baptists. I was raised in the south. As was DH, who has a number of Southern Baptist relatives in the Deep South. Their churches are incredibly racist, homosexuals will burn in he**, and generally hate filled people etc. people. Attending their churches for family weddings and funerals is always uncomfortable. I'm sure not all congregations are like this. But some SB definately preach hate and intolerance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Presbyterian. I would not do evangelical churches' camps. They too typically teach the opposite of what Christ actually taught.

+ 1
I went to an evangelical church camp as a child and I would not send my child to one. It was extreme, with a lot of emphasis on conversion.

[Anonymous]

Not if it is run by Al Qaeda. Or in East Timor...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with the PPs. Raised Catholic. Now agnostic. Kids not raised in a religion. I think their are two types of "religious camp". Those that emphasize the camp piece, and where the primary purpose is traditional camp activities and religion does not play a big role in what the kids do Day to day. But they are run by an organization to serve the community (YMCA) and in accordance with religious beliefs. Saying grace. A Jewish camp with kosher food, etc. I'm fine with that.

But some camps put the emphasis on the religion piece, rather than the camp piece. They religious teachings as a primary activity and serve as a recruitment for new members. And no, I would not be comfortable sending my kids to one of these. It puts them in a bad position of being asked to accept something at odds with how they have been raised.

And sadly, I agree on the Southern Baptists. I was raised in the south. As was DH, who has a number of Southern Baptist relatives in the Deep South. Their churches are incredibly racist, homosexuals will burn in he**, and generally hate filled people etc. people. Attending their churches for family weddings and funerals is always uncomfortable. I'm sure not all congregations are like this. But some SB definately preach hate and intolerance.

I have friends who are southern Baptists and I attribute their racist attitudes more to their southern roots than religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would depend on the denomination. I'm an interfaith minister and very open. My kids have been to Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.... churches. There are some specific denominations that I would not be ok with. When my kids were younger, I wouldn't have wanted them in any of the extremely evangelical Christian churches. I would be perfectly fine with a Methodist camp, for example. But, I would not allow my kids to attend a Southern Baptist Camp. I'm ok with differing beliefs. I'm not ok with hate.

Southern Baptists teach hate?

I grew up in the church. They do.

Southern Baptists are a loose conference of churches. You don't know what you're talking about, but nice try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would depend on the denomination. I'm an interfaith minister and very open. My kids have been to Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.... churches. There are some specific denominations that I would not be ok with. When my kids were younger, I wouldn't have wanted them in any of the extremely evangelical Christian churches. I would be perfectly fine with a Methodist camp, for example. But, I would not allow my kids to attend a Southern Baptist Camp. I'm ok with differing beliefs. I'm not ok with hate.

Southern Baptists teach hate?

I grew up in the church. They do.

+ 1 I had the misfortune to develop friendships with a couple of Southern Baptists. Didn't take long to reveal how much they hated Jews and that their primary reason for befriending me was to convert me to Christianity.

[Anonymous]

OP asked about away camp, so it's likely a Jewish camp, and I would have no problem with that if I were Christian (I'm a pretty non-religious Jew). They won't try to convert your kid, because we don't do that. If your child participates in religious ceremonies like prayers before meals or a Shabbat ceremony, they won't try to convince him that their belief is the only way. It would be more of a teaching experience, like "this is what WE believe." Jews won't tell you "this is what everyone should believe" because they don't care what you believe. Your beliefs are your own and don't impact them in any way. Agree with PP's saying no to any evangelical denomination. Because (a) they would be trying to recruit my kid, and (b) I don't want them making my kid feel like garbage because he's going to hell or whatever in their view because he doesn't share their beliefs.

[Anonymous]

As a Catholic kid I would up at an evangelical camp (in the north). Fun parts (I was savvy enough not to tell my parents I had been born again at Camp.). Tons of efforts to convert, to push marriage with other evangelicals and to shame immodest dress and any sexual behavior. Lots of group think and plays to emotion of kids away from home. My Catholic upbringing was way more chill. My kids are at secular camps now because the Christian religious ones I found were longer on the religion than I thought ideal.