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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.[/quote]

Thank you for articulating this, OP.
I think it helps to attempt to understand the perspective of the other person.

And I think if you also stop to consider the other person’s perspective, it might help you to reframe your anger into something resembling compassion and even an odd sense of thankfulness for the heart of your child’s friend in that he obviously cares for your son or he would just “leave it alone” and say nothing.

I don’t think he intends to be “bullying” at all. But if a Christian truly believes what they profess to believe—which is that the only way to be with the Father in heaven is through relationship with Jesus Christ who died for our sins to take the punishment we all justly deserve FOR us in our place, then he believes this is true for his friend too—and he doesn’t want your friend to be left behind simply because he didn’t care enough to share with him and express concern.

So what you argue is “bullying” I would offer is an expression of true concern and attempt to rescue from a fate that no one would choose for their worst enemy—let alone a friend—which is eternal separation from God.

Using a different scenario for analogy, if the field behind your home were burning, and you were in imminent danger of being consumed by the fire—and I were to notice that you had no fire extinguishers or running water or hydrants and you didn’t know about the fire department or refused to contact them because you felt it was unnecessary….I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I just shrugged and watched your house and your family burn without attempting to help or call someone at the fire department to intervene. 
You still may not listen and you still may refuse help—arguing that you’ll be fine and the fire is not a real threat. Which, of course, you are free to do.
But I don’t think you’d be sorry (and I certainly would not) if my efforts to get help or speak up actually wound up leading to action that eventually saved your home and family.
This is the mindset of a Christian.
Sometimes you must risk offending even (and especially!) those you dearly love on the chance that a greater good is possible to achieve—and it may only plant a seed….but in the end it’s worth the risk if the alternative is way worse.

Your child’s friend may appear brainwashed to you. And you argue that it’s rude and unkind for him to share his beliefs with your child.
But I argue that it would be rude and unkind for him NOT to if this is his true belief.
And to that friend, your child appears doomed. And he cares enough to want to reverse that.
It might infuriate you—but his heart is FOR your son, not against him.[/quote]

Sorry -- if the kid came home in tears, it was bullying even if the Christian kid didn't mean to.  THEY SHOULD BE TAUGHT NOT TO APPROACH KIDS ABOUT RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOL.[/quote]

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