To get annoyed when dd(6) learns about Christianity?

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

She is at a non-religious, normal state primary. She is the type of kid who remembers everything she's told and parrots it back, so I hear about her entire day every day at school. Almost every day she tells me they sang this song about Jesus, learnt that story about Jesus, learnt this lesson about Christianity. Every assembly they sing a Christian song.

I am an atheist. I don't want her to learn just about Christianity, all religions are important in a 'this is what some people believe' kind of way but I feel like they're indoctrinating her into Christianity by pushing it so much. I try to counter it by teaching her other religious beliefs and telling her my beliefs, but I know the steady drip drip of information could plant a seed that could lead to what I would consider radicalisation.

I've brought it up with her teacher, she's sympathetic and has given us the option to opt-out but I'd hate for her to feel singled out and to miss important things in assemblies.

Does/did it bother you? AIBU to be annoyed?

would you be so disrespectful about any other religion

I'm sure that if someone came on and talked about how their God helped someone get better, they would face questions about that - regardless of faith.

Saying a god can do miracles but at the same time saying you can never ask god to do miracles

Isn't that what prayers are though?
When you pray to any God, what are you asking for?

If you pray to any God for help but God doesn't answer, how do you interpret that? Especially if someone else prays and their prayers are answered?

Why did God help one person but not the other?

Fair point Ergo.

I suppose with Christianity God isn't like a genie who answers our prayers to suit us itms. It can be very disappointing.

It can be very disappointing

It must be. When you have a loved one dying of an awful disease and you are told to pray for their survival and God doesn't listen.

That must test your faith. It would test mine.

It must also lead to the questions:

What is the point of God?
What is the point of having faith?

Yes it has done and I have felt like quitting but somehow...

It must also lead to the questions:

What is the point of God?
What is the point of having faith?

I posted this earlier in the thread

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

woodhill

If you stopped believing in God, how would your life be affected?

Hard to say but I think being a Christian makes me more focused on others and gives my life direction. I like the social aspect of the church I belong to.

Hard to say but I think being a Christian makes me more focused on others and gives my life direction.

So youre doing it to make sure you get into heaven?

Atheists do it because we know this is the only life we have and when we die thats the end

I think being a Christian makes me more focused on others and gives my life direction. I like the social aspect of the church I belong to.

If you really feel you have to believe in a fictional murderous, sycophantic, genocidal misogynistic maniac to make you more focused on others I feel deeply sorry for you.

Atheists do it because we know this is the only life we have and when we die thats the end

No, you believe that. You can't know it unless you have already experienced it or know someone who has, in which case there would be indisputable proof that when you die it is not the end.

Again Ollie being rude. I'm perfectly fine thanks

How have I been disrespectful , woodhill? I have made a point of being as general as possible when saying I do not believe in any gods, I only refer to Christianity in certain instances.

I don't know why God chose not to heal my child. But I do know that as I was holding my dying child in my arms, God was holding me in His. It didn't test my faith, it drew me closer to God. Because when I'm at rock bottom, when nothing else makes sense, God Is.

I can't explain that, I can't rationalise that, I can't justify it I just know that it is so. Sorry.

Thanks for sharing that Pram. Must have been horrendous for you.

Ah, Prams, there you are.

Could you answer my question about what you meant when you said "Mostly these days I look at the world around me and all I can pray is Come, Lord Jesus. I can't see any other way to fix this massive stinking mess we've gotten ourselves into"?

It sounded to me like you meant you pray for the Apocalypse.

Its rude to say you feel sorry for someone?

I just know that it is so. Sorry

No, you believe that is so. I know your belief must give you tremendous comfort, especially the tragedy you have suffered. But do you consider it disturbing to still consider this being a friend, a protector, a comfort, a guardian, when you know they could have saved your child? God is all powerful, all knowing, why did not intervene?
You compared your knowledge of gods existence to your firm knowledge your parents exist, what if you knew your parent could have saved your child and chose not too, but instead comforted you while they died.

How could you ever trust them again?

If this sort of thing is part if his master plan for everything, then its a pretty shit plan.

SilenceOfThePrams, I'm sorry you've had a awful time, I truly am. But many of us have seen horrors in life, and for me it just shows if there was a god, at best it's ignoring us, at worst it's as cruel as described in most scriptures. Who could possibly find a God who lets innocent young lives go, possibly be benevolent? One who sits in silence whilst the world falls apart. But I can understand trying to find comfort in something bigger than you. The idea these awful things happen is too much for some to deal with, it's easier to try and rationalise that it must be part of something else than think how awful real life can be at times.

I've said before, having god in your life is like being part of an abusive relationship. You try and do everything 'right', and it's never good enough. Not to talk about the eternal silent treatment.

Sorry haven't rtt but I felt exactly the same as you Op but after they got past year one they started to drop the Jesus fascination, when asked to pray they'd think of something they'd like to do or eat and they soon returned to the safety of atheism . They both are taking RE GCSE - they are very interested in the theory and the discussions but as for worship - not a chance!

I've been off this thread for a bit but just wanted to come on and say that the Christian faith doesn't deny the awfulness of suffering in the world.

We believe that God is grieved by the suffering and has set a plan in motion to rescue the world from suffering and death through Jesus

When Jesus returns we believe he is going to renew the earth, not destroy it. It will be without death and suffering. When people long for him to return they are longing for him to save the world, not to destroy it.

Mmm. See, I've read Revelation, and the apocalypse involves inconceivable torture and pain for nearly everyone I know and love. So i hope you'll excuse me if I say I find praying for such a thing despicable.

Praying death and destruction on other people? No. Praying please come and fix it, make it better, end this suffering, bring us into your new and perfect heaven and earth where there are no more tears? Yes please.

Does that answer your question?

I am sorry if I'm missing things.

littlejeopardy that makes little sense. The world has been 'in turmoil' in all of humanity's existence. We've had genocide and two world wars in the last 100 years, not to talk about the other awful instances in history. And an all powerful god sits there being sad about it . This is the same one who apparently created everything, destroyed the Tower of Babylon from above, flooded the entire world, strike down cities that dared to have some fun, plagued Egypt and killed all the first born sons, impregnated a teenage virgin with a magic baby, etc. It grieves him so much, with all his amazing power he does sod all about it. Right.