Church group

[bumblebee39]

Only youth club/holiday activities for older DC in my area is in a church it says that there's fun activities etc. But they also learn a bible story. We are a atheist/part Jewish/ part Christian (religious grandparents) family and don't want to indoctrinate DC with Jesus etc. Equally, can't see the harm in some fun and a nice story. Should I let DC go? I know DC has upset people before saying "when your dead you don't really go to heaven" and the like...

It won't be indoctrination, it will be stories.

I'd let them go, and keep conversations up at home about how different people believe different things, and that's OK.

I am always saying "this is what other people believe, this is what I believe etc." I am open to others beliefs, but she asked me what happens after we die when someone we knew passed away. I told her "I believe that they live on through our memories and also that because their body becomes ashes or they are buried they become part of nature again and therefore they are in the flowers, the trees, etc, they are the rainbows and butterflies and bumble bees and they are always with us even though I do not believe there is a heaven I believe they are always with us" I know it would be easier to say deceased family member and family pet had gone to heaven and where with the big man but I had to be honest with DC as was Asked where I thought they'd gone now and what had happened to their bodies. I always tell DCs every family is different, and they know that as have friends who celebrate Diwali, Ramadan, Hannukah, Christmas etc. And it is well taught in schools and nurseries now as well. I also tell them, some children eat sweets every day, some children have a sweetie day (like my kids) others never get sweets at all or just on their birthdays. I try to take them to solstice celebrations, Halloween, bonfire night, make thanksgiving dinner, make pancakes on shrove Tuesday, paint eggs like our Bulgarian friends instead of just having chocolate ones at Easter. I believe in letting them make their own minds up. Maybe it would be hypocritical them for me not to let older DC go to the church group? I mean, I can send her once and see how it goes and go from there? I think I just worry as she has moved to a Christian Faith school recently and I hope she doesn't start to think that's all that religion is, when it can be many things to different people. I am mixing it up though, because we will be staying with Buddhist friends soon too X

Personally I just try to teach my kids that love is always the answer and violence never is and I think for the most part that is what religions teach to just in different ways

It's the same where I live. Generally community stuff is run by Christians in a church. I am an atheist despite going to a Catholic primary and Anglican secondary, so I just tell my kids not to be rude about other people's beliefs and let them go.

I'm not Christian but I'd be fine with it and have still taught my kids lots of bible stories (in the same way they read about Aesop's fables, etc). I think there's a huge value in the stories and, having attended a CofE primary school myself, I still use bible stories as analogies all the time.

Just explain to DC that the club is in a church run by Christians so it's a valuable learning opportunity for them. They'll make their own decisions as they grow up anyway.

I think I'll just remind DC that everyone believes different things and let her go to it. I mean, I think I'd rather she believe in Noah and his arc than the tooth fairy but here we are 😂