AIBU to really hate religion?

[speakout]

My 5 year old great niece is very upset right now,
She was given a fairy door- small wooden one that sticks on the bottom of a skirting board.
My sister- very religious has seen it in her room, ripped it off and broken it telling the child that Satan will come through and it is an evil trap.
I am trying to be respectful of my sister's religion but it is hard.

[CardinalSin]

Magpie, that's exactly my point. Religions are all about control. Just because there are some very nice people who follow a religion, and don't take it to the extremes like their book says they should doesn't mean that the religion itself isn't abhorrent.

[CardinalSin]

Ah, "free will".

You're free to do whatever you like, but if you don't worship me I'll burn you for all eternity.

Right...

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Of course the OP is being deliberately obtuse. The vast majority of Christians get presents at Christmas and eggs at Easter.

She is pissed off with her sister and she is pissed off with herself for staying silent and doing nothing while her sister abuses her family. So instead of actually doing anything, calling out her sister for her abusive ways, contacting SS, she comes onto MN to start a bun fight with all the non a bun fight with normal, rational, loving people of faith.

[NameChanger22]

I knew a very religious family once who thought the TV show The Simpsons was the work of the devil. If I believed in the devil I might agree with them.

I'm tolerant of all people, but not the rubbish they believe. I will always call bullshit wherever I see it.

[Noimbrianfromhull]

So are you going to report to SS or not? No-one really cares whether it's the fault of Religion or not.

[speakout]

Report her for what?

For taking a fairy door off a wall and leading her grandchild in prayer?

You think SS will treat that as a priority?

[magpiemischief]

Magpie, that's exactly my point. Religions are all about control. Just because there are some very nice people who follow a religion, and don't take it to the extremes like their book says they should doesn't mean that the religion itself isn't abhorrent.

No, if you don’t believe in the premises behind religion, religion is a human construct which means it can reflect any aspect of human nature. Which includes control but is not exclusive to it. Religion can equally reflect more positive aspects. Religion, if you consider it as stemming from human nature, is not ‘abhorrent’ it is merely an aspect of human nature which is. Religion, in that sense, is a means of expression, like art. Are all forms of art ‘abhorrent’ because some might be?

[DaemonPantalaemon]

*he has suggested to the child that demons may already have slipped though and been sprinkling the home with holy water.

Sorry OP, this is where your story falls apart. Baptists don't believe in holy water, that is a belief of churches with a hierarchical priesthood, e.g. Catholic, Orthodox Church etc. If you are going to troll, please do some research. Here is something written by a true Baptist, easily found on the internet:

"Baptists don't believe in holy water. It’s funny, because you would think that Baptists would put a greater emphasis on water than any other denomination due to our name, but we really don't.

We don't believe water can save a soul, or that any kind is holier than any other. Baptism comes after one is saved, and is done through immersion, not sprinkling.[1] Why? Because we believe that baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When you bury someone, you don't sprinkle dirt on them—you completely cover them with it."

Nice try though!

[BertrandRussell]

I don't hate religion. But it is interesting that whenever anyone talks about anything negative that's done in the name of religion there is a chorus of "Oh, but that's not real Christianity/Islam/Judaism/ insert faith of choice"

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

YABU to blame all religion.

People who want to be controlling bullies will do so one way or another. Some use a framework of religious beliefs, some don't. Chairman Mao ran a secular state... how many millions died? How many thousands and thousands fell as political victims to his changing paranoia and administering control within the community and household?

At this more domestic end of the scale, this is worth reporting as a child protection issue.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Report her for Emotional abuse and report your niece for failing to protect her DD from her mother's anger and abusive ways. Hopefully they will be able to work with your neice and help her to provide a safe and loving home away from your angry, irrational, intolerant, toxic sister Good luck.

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

Baptist friend of mine was struggling and asked the church to come round and pray with her

They came round and told her that it was her fantasy books that were to blame and she got rid of all of them

I dont assume all baptists believe the above...but they certainly did

[speakout]

DaemonPantalaemon I am not a troll. I have reported your post.

I can assure you my sister uses holy water, I don't give a damn whether you think she should or not.

[OliviaPopeRules]

• Report her for what?
  
  For taking a fairy door off a wall and leading her grandchild in prayer?
  
  You think SS will treat that as a priority*
  
  Yes that is abuse, telling her Satan comes through and fairy door and that she need to pray for an hour for forgiveness. It’s cruel and unnecessary.
  
  What are you going to wait for, until she starts trying to exorcise the child’s demons.
  
  If this is true you are a bloody disgrace and clearly have no regard for this child so don’t bother with your BS isn’t religion awful, my poor niece, my poor sister.

[Dahlietta]

Daemon, you got there before me about the holy water. This 'Baptist' seems to be going through a lot of overtly Catholic superstitions and customs.

[Noimbrianfromhull]

Report her for what?

Emotional abuse. As has been pointed out repeatedly.

Terrifying a child into thinking they may have let demons into the house into the house and forcing them to pray for forgiveness for an hour is emotional abuse.

Or do you think it's fine and not likely to cause any harm at all?

[BertrandRussell]

I don't think there are any Baptist schools, are there?

But I do know Evangelicals who believe and worship in the way the OP describes.

[speakout]

It's is not a school in the UK.

[magpiemischief]

Holy water versus toy fairy door. Which wins the fight? At the moment it sounds like your sister is worried, even with the fairy door dramatically broken. If she believes in the power of God, how could a toy fairy door compete with that? Ask her, seriously. This is why her actions can be viewed an ‘un-Christian’.

[habenero20]

Chairman Mao ran a secular state... how many millions died? How many thousands and thousands fell as political victims to his changing paranoia and administering control within the community and household?

no one says that communism should be free from criticism for that. Indeed, the problem with communism is that it provides reasonable justification for his acts.

[CardinalSin]

Magpie, now you're talking rubbish!

[DaemonPantalaemon]

I can assure you my sister uses holy water, I don't give a damn whether you think she should or not

Then I can assure you that your sister is either not real, or is not a Baptist. It is not "one size fits all", you know. Baptists do not use Holy Water. However, Catholics do.

I am happy to be reported, because nothing in your story makes sense.

[magpiemischief]

Explain, please Cardinal. I might be able to clarify anything that is unclear to you.

[Warhammerwidow89]

A priest in who tells the kids the truth wouldn't be a priest would he? God is no more than a belief. Same with fairies. Although people grow out of believing in fairies.

A believe in fairys can be seen as paganism, however you don't have to be pagan to believe in fairies. Children the world over believe in them.

It's child abuse. Report it op

[flumpybear]

Goodness what a strange sister and niece you have, your poor great niece!!
I think religion is essentially a load of gutless people who hide behind a thousand year old (well probably thousands actually) excuse to be shitty or rule over individuals to control them
Usually a ‘pick and mix’ variety of religion as to what should and shouldn’t be interpreted in this or they way - its a load of hokum for bullies to use as a weapon or sheep to hide behind or worry over in my books - nonsense, enjoy life, be a good person and get on with it