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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that there is a time and a place, but the school playground is not it?

80 replies

Beejayel · 01/03/2012 20:13

I probably am BU, but I'd like to hear what the rest of you think.

One of the mums I see at school every morning is a wheelchair user, she is a lovely lady, and I know that she is a regular church goer.
This morning at drop off (DD in reception year of CofE primary school), outside the class door in the playground, I saw this lady had her trousers rolled up above her knees and one of the dads had his hands on her knees and was loudly praying to God for his healing powers.
Now, I'm not averse to the idea of prayer, I would like to think there is a chance it could help her, I just think the busy playground is not a suitable time or place to do it so loudly and openly. It was very 'in-your-face', but is that ok? Or inappropriate?

OP posts:
seeker · 02/03/2012 10:21

"Wasn't necessarily prayer for her to get out of the wheelchair and walk."

That's what they all say!

Pagwatch · 02/03/2012 10:22
Grin Teflon trousers at m&s. So good even God can't get through them.
minceorotherwise · 02/03/2012 10:35

Can you imagine the label, 'M&S Godproof'
They could have Per Una and next to that an 'Atheists Section'

mojitomania · 02/03/2012 10:39

It takes all sorts ay.

Reminds me of a time when a friend and I were over the park, friend is a receptionist at a doctors. A woman came along and recognised friend. The woman had a problem with one of her boobs, she proceeded to get it out and show her Grin

minceorotherwise · 02/03/2012 10:44

Piety deflecting denim
I'm seeing a whole gap in the market

OTheHugeManatee · 02/03/2012 10:52

I'm Grin at the idea of inappropriate public displays of religion.

It's not like they were fucking on the playing fields at breaktime. Get a grip Hmm

fortifiedwithtea · 02/03/2012 11:22

If God can not get into her trousers, can the Devil?Confused

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 02/03/2012 12:37

Some fucker prayed over my DD whilst she was in hospital and dropped fucking (unsterilized) holy water over her Hmm

It was the first time I had left her and popped home to see the boys.

I never left her again after that.

Poor DD had the presence of mind to pretend to be asleep.

If I had been there the stupid bitch would have been praying for a different reason.

Pagwatch · 02/03/2012 12:40

Bloody hell mrsdevere, that is awful!

I was getting my back looked at and was half way through when the chiropractor told me that ds2 had autism because of me. If I had just accepted Jesus into my heart......

TheCrunchUnderfoot · 02/03/2012 12:42

I would have peed laughing!

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 02/03/2012 12:45

Healer asked my friend when was she due and did she know if it was a boy or a girl.
My friend informed him (quite loudly) that she has had an early menopause and her DH has had the snip - so NOT preggers.
He then said that someone in close proximity was definitely pregnant (they were all over 50 except me and I hadn't DTD in over 2 yrs!)
So he wasn't the best at "reading auras" that day!
My friend still says "Oh I couldn't possibly lift that in my condition" 3 years later, and her DH says he'd like to know who got her pregnant as they must have Olympic standard swimmers...
BTW this conversation happened in a school staffroom (but no laying on of hands and no children present).
What is it about healers and schools?

PosiePumblechook · 02/03/2012 12:47

Faith healers are pretty low, preying on vulnerable people. I think it's absolutely dreadful to do that sort of thing in a playground.

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 02/03/2012 12:47

Pag so Angry for you, how dare he - did you complain to his professional organisation, I would have
I heard of a born again Christian who informed his parents that his little sister wasn't epileptic, just possessed by Satan. All his family think he is insane.

Sparklingbrook · 02/03/2012 12:48

Why have I never met a faith healer?

Mrsjay · 02/03/2012 12:49

well thats just odd and im guessing she wil be still using her whellchair at hometime , I have a disability and i had somebody want to heal me years ago was a friend of my aunts , i said no ta really wanted to say get away from me you weirdo but i was polite Grin

OpinionatedMum · 02/03/2012 12:52

re mrsdevere's post. That's terrible.

OP I don't understand how it's wrong to do that in public. It's not like they were imposing their faith on anyone else. It's only when people force their beliefs on me I get annoyed.

wannaBe · 02/03/2012 12:54

it's all a load of bollocks though really, innit?

It just all seems so self - serving...

I've had people pray for me (not at my request, I might add) and proclaim that when I wake up in the morning I "will be able to see." Hmm I have an aunt (I will add at this point that she is bloody odd and we have very little to do with her," who at one point believed she was a faith healer (personally I've always thought she was a bit of a witch). Anyway one night she rang my mum at about midnight to ask if my sight had improved because she had been using her powers. Hmm I find it hillarious. And actually, the thought of suddenly being able to see when I never have is fucking terrifying. Grin

ClothesOfSand · 02/03/2012 12:56

I don't think it is wrong to do such things in public; it is just a bit ostentatious. It would be like if another mum and I decided to sing 'Firework' complete with dance routine in a unitard right next to the classroom door during morning drop off. It isn't in itself offensive, but it is a bit of a bizarre choice of time and venue.

Sparklingbrook · 02/03/2012 12:57

Do it Clothes. Grin

OpinionatedMum · 02/03/2012 13:06

@ clothesof sand. I find it surprising people find religion that weird. I was brought up believing in miracles though.

Awful when people suggest lack of faith has caused their problems or pray over people without their consent though.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 02/03/2012 13:23

I suppose I have always thought of faith as a private thing. Nothing to be ashamed of - just private.
Thats the wishy washy CoE for you Grin

Keep it low key and throw in some tea and biscuits when its all over.

AChickenCalledKorma · 02/03/2012 13:30

Jesus said some stuff about not making a bit show of your prayers - so the loud and conspicuous bit is a bit off.

But plenty of people do pray .... including for healing .... and sometimes people do get healed. My husband for example. So I'm kind of coming down on the side of "it's a church school, no-one should be shocked that someone actually prays!"

With the proviso that if the bloke in question was being pushy and praying for her in a way that she wasn't happy about, then he was well out of order.

WhereEaglesDare · 02/03/2012 13:34

O my goodness.. what a funny post...
You made me laugh so much.......So did it work????

OhdearNigel · 02/03/2012 13:40

Praying should never be visible

In your opinion.

OP - it's a faith schoo hardly a shocking venue for prayerl; I would be surprised but it would not bother me, people express their faith in different ways. I presume that this man never sees the lady except at the school gates so just seized the moment.

Who decides the "correct time and place for prayer" anyway ?

seeker · 02/03/2012 13:47

"who decides the "correct time and place for prayer" anyway?"

Er, Jesus, actually!
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."