15 year old (not religious) going to Newday Christian Festival

[glosbucks]

Does anyone have any experience of Newday Festival? My 15 year old is going with two friends this year - one a Christian, my daughter and her friend are not and do not plan to go to the Bible study / group meetings.

The three girls are close friends and the religious friend has invited the other two on the basis that they don't have to come along to bible study etc

I am now reading the material and code of conduct and getting concerned that they may not be able to avoid the Bible study and could possibly be subjected to a lot of Christian worship, which they don't want to take part in.

Is it unrealistic of them (and us) to expect them to go along and be able to not take part in the Christian worship.

[mabelmylove]

It’s a Christian festival. If they don’t want to be exposed to any religion, maybe they should just go to Reading or Leeds.

[cdtaylornats]

It's not like they'll burst into flames.

[BackforGood]

and could possibly be subjected to a lot of Christian worship

"subjected to" ?!?

and this is a surprise to them at a Christian Festival ??

I don't know whether to or

What, exactly are / were they expecting to happen at a Christian Festival ?

My dd went with a couple of friends to a (different) Christian Festival last year for the first time, and had a fantastic time - lots of time for sports and 'fun' activities.... lots of time for discussions and questions about faith and about all sorts of secular things, but, the non-religious friend who went with them also knew they would be going to worship sessions too. It does sort of describe that in the fact it is called a Christian Festival.

Mind, their friend was open minded enough to think of it as "a chance to experience some worship" and went with an open mind, not a fear that they were going to catch something

[Rosemary46]

Your DD will be quite safe. My teenager went to a secular festival and he didn’t catch secularism. He managed to avoid anything he didn’t want to take part in by not going to take part in it.

And of course cleverly foiling the armed guards who force helpless teens to listen to bands they don’t want to.

[Bluerussian]

A Christian festival will have a Christian agenda.
Greenbelt is far better than Newday, interesting for non Christians and Christians alike It usually takes place over the August bank holiday.

[glosbucks]

Thank you for the feedback. I apologize for using the word "subjected" having read back my post that was the wrong word to use.

What I was trying to ask is whether it is unreasonable for them to go to a festival like this when they have no intention in going to the group worship. I have no worries about their safety and have no concerns about them going to the sessions if they want to, But I am feeling uncomfortable with them going if they have no intention to go to the group worship.

Thanks again for your feedback.

[BackforGood]

I think you'd have to ask the person taking your dd - youth group leader or whatever.

At Greenbelt, for example, you could quite easily have a great time without going to 'worship' as such - there are talks, debates, and music to listen to and all sorts going on. OTOH at Soul Survivor, it would be a bit of a waste of time to go if you were intending to not give the worship a try. The time spent in worship is a much bigger part of the experience. Sorry, but I don't know where NewDay falls on this spectrum. Nor do I know how the group is being organised and if the Leaders would be comfortable with people being their responsibility, but not willing to take part in what the others are doing.

[starfishcoffee]

Greenbelt is brilliant. I grew up going there and will be going again this year. Probably a far better choice.

I have been to Newday, it's a bit much. A lot of intense worship. There are "parties" at the end of each day but Greenbelt has far more to offer and is much more versatile.

[TheWindowDonkey]

My daughter went to newday with a friend last year, and is going again this year! We’re non church goers and she LOVED it. Had a great time, met some lovely new friends and loved the freedom of camping out with everyone and having fun. You can opt out of the religeous bits but she quite liked hving a sing along with the others and didnt come back in am way religiously indoctrinated. Hth.

[savingshoes]

I don't think the Christians at the festival will be uncomfortable that two non-Christians attend the festival.
Your child may not believe in all that is practiced but so long as they are not sniggering in the back whilst others are trying to pray, everyone is likely to respect each other.