WIBU to berate the Christians who insisted on giving my ds a pamphlet?

[HarrietSchulenberg]

In Chester this morning. Only nipped in as I had an eyetest but H and dses wanted a quick nosey round town. A large group of middle aged and elderly Christians were singing and leafleting in the middle of town, which is fair enough: live and let live etc. First time we walked past H and I said polite "No thank you"s when offered leaflets, as we are Atheists so really had no want or need of them.

Second time we walked past them they offered leaflets again. We are quite a distinctive family so I'm sure they remembered us from earlier, but thought they'd try again. Firm "No thank you"s from us again but two of them started pushing leaflets at Ds1 (13) and 2 (11). Ds1 ignored them but ds2 took one to be polite. Luckily they didn't try ds3 (6) but mainly because he was on the other side of H so they couldn't reach him.

We started to walk away but then I realised what they'd done. So I went back and told them not to give leaflets to my children, just adults, and us adults didn't want them. First man smiled and said, "It's OK, Jesus loves you": cue curt declaration of my atheism and another request not to target children.

Second man repeats, "Jesus loves you" mantra at which point my politeness vanished and I might have bellowed something about pixies in the sky and not preying on the vulnerable. And walked off while they were telling me again that Jesus would forgive my sin if I would just admit what I already knew ( ) and believed.

Only to be approached by a third man round the corner who also seemed hell-bent on giving us leaflets. He also insisted on telling us that Jesus loved us and also told me that Jesus cured his alcohol addiction, at which point I gave a loud snort, told him to back off and rounded everybody up ready for home.

And the leaflet? Tells us that we are all sinners and in debt for our sins (what sins has an 11 year old committed other than the occasional nocturnal raid on the biscuit tin?). But the debt "must be paid ... to have any hope of heaven". And then a lot more about believing in Jesus and a contact address for a free New Testament on the back.

H and ds2 think I should have just binned the leaflet and walked away, but ds1 agrees with me that such blatant attempts to indoctrinate need to be challenged, even if it does mean a "scene" in the street. So, WIBU or is it OK for people to peddle religious twaddle directly to children in the middle of a busy city on a Saturday morning?

I thought you were a bit harsh in this case. I'm as atheist as they come (think Richard Dawkins type of atheist) but when I have this sort of literature foisted upon me, I politely decline or just quietly bin it later. Remember, they think they are helping you so there's no malice in their behaviour. As for your children, a discussion about the fact that others have different beliefs is educational for them. Nobody is forcing you or your children to read it.

Joules, let's just say that one of us got dressed in a hurry this morning and was looking a little mismatched (strange colours), one insisted on wearing a weird tweed jacket, one is punky/metal looking, one is a long haired indie-kid and the littlest one has hair like a mop and a bright red coat that you could probably see from space (necessary as he's a wanderer).

Snort was more of a Hchnaaaaaa explosion sound.

I would be outraged if any organization gave my small child a leaflet without my permission.

I read a fabulous sentiment about religion by somebody on mumsnet, I can't remember who it was, sorry.

Religion is like a penis, just because you have it doesn't mean you should get it out in public and wave it about!

As a non believer myself, I see no reason to convert others to my beliefs, I get mightily peeved with those who don't do me the same courtesy.

Sounds like a load of fuss about nothing

They're 13 and 11yrs old. They could have said 'No thank you' or just took them and binned them like I do.

Just make sure you teach them what the word 'fanatic' means and you won't go far wrong.

I've seen that group in Chester and they are bloody rude. I too have had a row with them and quite gladly would again. YANBU and I would be furious if anyone tried to indoctrinate my LOs.

YANBU

Sorry, church isn't given, just a person's name and what seems to be a house name.
To be clear, I don't think they are representative of "normal" Christians as this lot seemed excessively evangelical and almost messianic in their mission.

The most they should be allowed to do is set up a stall on the side of the riad anf people can approach them if they feel the need.

That's a good suggestion - far less likely to piss people off.

I must admit I get a bit narked when somebody says 'i'll pray for you'. Its irrational I know, but it feels like they are saying there's something wrong with me that needs fixing. However, I do bite my tongue and walk away swearing in my head.

Of course YANBU, you were bothered three times and had potentially upsetting material handed to your child.

Ffs people here get hysterical if people tell their DC Father Christmas isn't real telling a child they may go to hell because of the beliefs they have been raised with is awful.

....or would it be okay for me to stand outside the Catholic church at the end of my road, giving the Sunday infants class leaflets saying "your parents will die and rot, and you won't ever see them again because heaven isn't real"?

Really off to target anyone but esp children.

I'm not religious, but I couldn't care less if evangelical types want to give me a leaflet.

I don't mind if they stand on a soap- box shrieking their beliefs.

It is fine.

Children come to their own opinions soon enough. I've never met any religious people who were 'converted' with a flyer!

The ever so delightful evelangical church where I used to live started doorstepping me just after my son died. On an almost daily basis they would come to my door giving me leaflets on such things as 'Why am I suffering in this life' and 'Why did my child die' and other such rubbish, which boiled down to me being a sinner in a past life and God testing me now, they also delightfully informed me that, because I had my son cremated, I had prevented his soul resting in peace. Apparently it was quite common for them, they trawled the newspapers looking for vulnerable people to try and convert.

People will seek them out if they want to convert, I doubt anyone goes into town on a Saturday afternoon looking for a new pairs of shoes, and comes home with a whole new faith.

And, no, they shouldn't be giving anything to children if the parents say no.

op I think you came across some 'out there' members then.

They wouldn't have had much luck gaining any fresh blood with (what sounds like) such a manic approach!

we talk about what other people belive

thing is op your kids may become any religion when they grow up. nowt to do with you.

I am not religious and neither are my grown up kids or my teens but for you to shout at someone who is giving out leaflets sounds appalling behaviour and you embarrassed yourself and your family.

you should have polities handed it back to them or binned it.

From an advertising aspect, can they advertise something they can't prove to be true?

Loving the sound of your family Harriet :) could do with a visible from space coat for DH. he's always wandering off!

Shakin that's utterly disgraceful and hope you reported them to the police if they harassed you.

BTW, I always take the leaflet. Every leaflet I bin is one less leaflet that could fall into the hand of a feeble brained future convert.

Tiggy have you thought about taking a whole pile of them and offering to 'distribute' them further down the road in the bin?

YANBU to be annoyed, but I personally wouldn't have bothered in getting into an argument about 'pixies' etc. Just giving the leaflet back and a "please do not target my child" would have sufficed.

They are clearly bonkers and you had no more chance in convincing them you were right, than them you.

Not worth the effort IMO.

MyBody I'm ashamed to say I didn't report them. I wish I had because it might have prevented others getting the same treatment, they were showing up almost daily for about 2 months then it tailed off to once a week, and then I moved, who knows, I'd probably still be getting them at my door now.

It was really awful because they knew his name and how he died and other things about me (small town) and used every bit of information they had to make me feel like crap and that the only thing I could do to 'save my son' and myself was join them. Bastards.

as we just talk about "what other people believe".

So you are already indoctrinating your children into being non-believers..............because YOU don't believe??

I find it more offensive when shop assistants try to foist their anti wrinkle cream on me, tbh

Teach your children to simply say 'no thank you'. Issue over with. What's the point of getting into a row in the street - life's too short to go looking for confrontations.

This would have enraged me (I don't have children), even one fanatic forcing shitty leaflets on people pisses me off, never mind several of them, with patronising little pre prepared speeches.
Keep your arms by your sides, they can't physically force the leaflet into your hands, just ignore them completely, or say a really bored monotone 'no', no apology, no thank you.

There you go, proselytisers, read about shakinstevenslovechild experience, and tell me again about how harmless these bigoted fanatics are.
My hod that's disgusting behaviour.