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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to tell this bible study group this

25 replies

Lilylightfoot · 29/08/2012 22:05

One of my neighbours is the minister in a small local church called the True Bible Church, that?s the King James Bible. He is always preaching hell fire and damnation, even to small children and had some in tears. I and other neighbours have told him to stop but just says it?s his duty. He upset DGS 8ys at the weekend by describing the crucifixion detail and say it was to pay for his sins. I was livid. He has a bible study group for teenagers at his house on Wednesday evenings, as they coming this evening I heard one of them say someone was a prostitute like Mary Magdalene I told them it was more evident that she was Jesus wife then she prostitute. Also there are many more Gospels than the four in the bible. Now his DD and three of friends are of to the library tomorrow to find out more. Did I go to far, the girls 14/ 15. I am not Christian I lost my faith many years ago.

OP posts:

DrSeuss · 29/08/2012 22:11

I believe that it is the duty of every person of faith to THINK! Blind faith is not an option for me-I listen, I consider, I decide. Sounds like you tried to help them do the same.

CrikeyOHare · 29/08/2012 22:13

Oooh - my atheist, anti-theist hackles are rising just reading that.

There's nothing wrong whatsoever in telling people the truth. If that conflicts with their "faith" then tough luck.

I bet this revolting lunatic tells them all the evolution isn't true too.

Grrrrrrr .

NovackNGood · 29/08/2012 22:14

It will do them good to actually go and read independently and see if what the minister says stands up to scrutiny.

lovebunny · 29/08/2012 22:15

you can say what you like - but that doesn't mean people have to believe you. he can say what he likes, too.

churchgoing is not compulsory - you could stop your children going or you could move to another church.

mary magdalene is described as a prostitute in the bible, is she not? i'm wondering now if i'm right. she did follow Jesus (like following a pop star from gig to gig nowadays) but so did many men and women (people outside mainstream society).

and while it is possible Jesus was married (he is said to have had a house at capernaum, and would not have had a home of his own unless he was married) i would like to know the convincing evidence that it was mary m who was his wife.

there is absolutely nothing wrong with prompting your dd and her friends to find out more! well done! but if they want to continue attending meetings, staying on the right side of the pastor is going to be important, so they need to be discreet when speaking to him.

NameChangeGalore · 29/08/2012 22:16

I don't know why you'd want to get involved tbh.

chocoluvva · 29/08/2012 22:18

I hope he expressed sympathy for his biblical prostitute. She must have been in a desperate situation.

CrikeyOHare · 29/08/2012 22:23

Name Frightening young children with tales of hellfire & damnation is abuse - nothing less. To sit back and let it happen without challenging it is not the right thing to do at all, so I don't blame the OP for her concern at all.

*NB - I am NOT saying that talking to children about faith is abusive - just these kinds of threats. The vast, vast majority of Christians in this country would never behave (or even feel) this way. To be clear.

JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 29/08/2012 22:25

True Bible Church - thats an American church.

trixie123 · 29/08/2012 22:31

It's no secret that there are more than 4 gospels. The chosen 4 were selected by church fathers in the 3rd Century under guidance from the holy spirit (if you believe that kind of thing). The KJ bible is a dreadful translation if you are looking for accuracy but more poetic than the modern NRSV or NIV versions. As with all churches, he is free to preach as he wishes, your perogative is to stay away and keep your family away if you don't agree with his preaching.

NameChangeGalore · 29/08/2012 22:36

But the parents sending their children there know what they're going to be taught. If the parents feel strongly about it they can take their children out.

Original poster

Lilylightfoot · 29/08/2012 22:55

the thing my DGC and my neighbours DC don't go to his church or his bible study group we live in a very quiet road the children play out He stops them in the street we are think of calling the police but what could they do?

OP posts:

CrikeyOHare · 29/08/2012 23:17

Oh - so abuse is OK provided the parents know about it?

Personally, OP, I'd tell the local papers what this nutter man is doing. Shame him into stopping.

icecold · 29/08/2012 23:19

Im just

How are they going to find out more??? Are they going to be reading some Steven Dawkins? You cant find out the truth of a fictin

Of course you didnt go too far? Unless you punched them in the nose? Did you?

Im not sure why you are bothered what other people believe though?

If he is scaring young kids to tears in the street though-that needs to be stopped. Just random kids? how old? where are their parents in all this? are they part of his gang?

dobalina · 29/08/2012 23:39

He stops children in the street to preach at them?

I'd be very cross about that. I'd probably tell him not to do that any more please, and if he continued look into whether there is any law that could be threatened/invoked eg around harassment or public nuisance. Police might be able to advise.

dobalina · 29/08/2012 23:40

Actually, scrub that. I'd go batshit if he did that to my child/gc.

nameuschangeus · 30/08/2012 06:38

Is it any of your business?

sashh · 30/08/2012 06:45

Next week ask them to research Lilith.

Then aske them how many people were fed by a couple of fisha nd some bread, and why it is different in different gospels.

NameChangeGalore · 30/08/2012 06:46

So if you KNOW he's stopping children in the street and making them cry with stories why the hell haven't you contacted the police? In your op you say your dgc goes to his bible class. Wtf? Where are all the parents in all of this? They're still allowing him to carry on without reporting him. Hmm.

DruAnderson · 30/08/2012 06:47

Can I just point out at Mary Magdalene, is not and never was called a prostitute in the bible. It was an interpretation.
The catholic church decided about 60 years ago to official declare her 'not a prostitute'.
By all mean speak to them but, you can't continue to ask him not to speak to you dgc if you do.

DruAnderson · 30/08/2012 06:49

So does the dgc go to this mans bible class to doe he do it in the street?

tabulahrasa · 30/08/2012 06:51

There's nothing in the bible that says Mary magdalene is jesus's wife or a prostitute.

The bigger issue is that he's harassing children in the street tbh.

DruAnderson · 30/08/2012 06:53

if its in the street. Do not let your dgc speak to him.
If they are playing out, tell them to come in if he approaches them.
Telling his kids that what he is saying is wrong, is only the same as what he is doing.

noblegiraffe · 30/08/2012 07:36

As far as I remember, Jesus kisses Mary Magdalene and loves her more than the other Apostles in one of the other gospels.

But I suppose a church called 'True Bible' might ignore those versions.

Ask the kids what Jesus's last words were and the names of the 12 Apostles.

diaimchlo · 30/08/2012 07:41

I think you were right to put forward another view on what this man is preaching. The Bible itself is a collection of stories explaining events that happened many thousands of years ago and in many cases are the authors personal view.
This man is totally wrong in the way he is putting forward his take on the information written and IMO is abusing the youngsters he is preaching at.
I would not hesitate at all to face him and tell him so.... I have had to do this in the past in a similar situation and can promise you, came out on top.

IvanaHumpalot · 30/08/2012 08:50

I'd assume that the parents are ok with the bible study classes - I'm not sure I'd get involved with that (unless asked a specific question by the kids).

The unsolicited badgering of your and other children I would try and do something about. I would start with police (asbo?) I would also ask some advice from your local church, this particular branch may have form and there might be something they can do - cannon law.

I would even be tempted to find the local meeting place of this church an make an appointment with the elder(?).

And yes to the NSRV (new standard revised version) bible - includes apocrypha and helpful notes at begining of books and footnotes and is a better translation.
gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html
www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/intro.html

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