Is a Bible ok?

[DogCalledRudis]

We were invited to neighbours' 3 & 6 grandchildrens' birthday.
We're Christian, the grandparents are as well, so i think.... a nice edition of childrens' Bible should be nice?

Or should i just buy a big Lego?

There are some lovely illustrated bible story books. I don't think it's inappropriate. If nothing else, the grandparents could read the stories.

Don't see a bible as a birthday pressie and it's not your place to buy them one IMO. A toy or a non- religious book perhaps.

Get them Lego. They can always make Jesus out of it.

If someone bought my kids a bible it would go straight in the bin and I would think them rather rude for trying to push their religion onto my children.

Never mond the parents, if someone gave me a bible for a present when I was a child I'd be seriously disappointed.

Lego.

Having said that, I think a childrens bible, that has the old testament stories without being too religious is a good book for any child to read.

If Christian, they would probably already have children's bibles. If not Christian, they probably wouldn't want one and might actively dislike being given one

Sounds about right. Although I do wonder why even the most innocuous Christianity-related thread on Mumsnet (and just about every internet forum) instantly turns into an atheist axe-grinding fest? Do atheists just have more leisure time than the general population?

"Do atheists just have more leisure time than the general population?"

Damn, we've been sussed! None of us work - we just stay at home with our feet up reading our atheist books, watching our atheist tv programmes and dreaming up atheist mischief.

Actually, reading this thread made me wonder: is there a Children's Koran? Or a children's version of any other holy book?

Hack there are children's science books. The athiests get them young.

I don't know about the Koran, but we have some Buddhist story books for children, though I have no idea where we got them from - most likely somewhere in Japan. In Japanese hotel rooms you also get a bilingual book of Buddhist scriptures along with a Gideon bible.

You could check with the grandparents? Most people are negative about the idea on here, but without knowing the children themselves (and their parents!) it is hard to say whether this would be the right thing to do or not. After all, they (the kids I mean) might love Bibles and hate Lego!
I'd be pleased if someone got dd a nice children's Bible, personally, as she enjoys that type of thing. I am Christian, she's too young to be at 2 years 4 months, but she seems to enjoy the Bibles and other Christian-themed books she has (along with loads of other books, too!) These books were mostly bought for her Christening, but some for Christmas and birthdays too, along with a couple I have picked up from the charity shop (possibly donated by some of the posters up thread!)
Likewise if someone got her a nice book written and illustrated for children about another religious faith, I would be grateful and she would probably enjoy that too.

Extremely inappropriate. The children are too young to be exposed to the bible as they lack the necessary critical thinking skills.

One set of my DC's grandparents are practicing Catholics, but my DH is non-practicing and I am an atheist. The DCs aren't christened but we are quite happy for them to learn about different religions and make their own decisions. I wouldn't be offended if someone gave them a bible, but I would think it was a bit of an odd gift. There's some fantastic children's philosophy books out there if you want to encourage a bit of critical thinking ;)

I'm an atheist. I wouldn't have been offended by my children being given bibles, but I would have seen it as a pointless gift .None of my children would have been interested in them in the slightest, and they would have quickly found their way into recycling or a charity shop.
I personally don't like either giving or receiving gifts unless they are definitely wanted, to me it's just a waste of money and resources, and bibles (or any religious book or 'thing')would definitely come into that category in our house.

DD was given a bible as a present one year, I'm atheist...it has made for a nice book of laughter.

She likes the pictures but I don't read
it to her, I view it as any other story book, however not very well written, and too far fetched for my liking

Buy lego, far more imaginative and creative

I would be seriously pissed off if anyone gave my children a bible. I would think they were trying to convert them into their beliefs!
Bibles are a cristehing gift only. In my view

Stick with the Lego.

My GM buys bible stories and the like for my children
I follow no religion and my ex H would arguably have had another religion had he followed it
She loves the kids and loves her God. I don't mind it and the kids think that some of the stories are brilliant
If you would like maybe buy bible stories but LEGO is always great

Inappropriate gift. Religion in my mind us a private matter unless you are in a church. You don't know these people personally enough to give such a presumptuous gift. My hubby is quite religious. I am definitely not. I'd find it pointed and rude if my son was given a bible from my inlaws neighbours.

I don't see any 'atheist axe grinding fest' on this thread, tbh. Just common sense really.

I'm really not seeing this as atheist axe-grinding. Even the Christians (me included) are mostly saying to go for toys instead. A few atheists have said they'd throw out or take to the recycling, but there's plenty of books I would have done that with too rather than clutter up the house with them.

It's about whether a Bible (or any other religious object come to that) is a suitable choice for a birthday present for children when you don't know for certain they are being raised in that faith. And most people, either with or without faith, are saying it's not the best choice in this situation.

Seems fair and calm to me!