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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say something about religious nativity play?

393 replies

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 12/12/2018 16:07

The DC go to a private day nursery. It doesn't have a religious affiliation. It was their Christmas play today. They did a loose version of the nativity and then at the end, there was a bit of recitation - "and that baby Jesus grew up to do amazing miracles. He died to save all the people in the world. Christians believe he came back from the dead and everyone who finds Jesus will be happy."

Dd who is under 4 is now asking "what does it mean, Jesus died?" And "should we go and look for Jesus?"

Aibu to mention to nursery management that this has resulted in some awkward conversations and maybe next year, they could choose something non-religious, bearing in mind lots of the families that use the nursery aren't believing Christians?

OP posts:
coolestmum · 12/12/2018 16:09

Its a kids nativity. I don't see anything wrong in that, it is the main reason for christmas after all so surely worth educating them about?
Just answer the questions. Why are they awkward?

SoyDora · 12/12/2018 16:10

To be fair, it doesn’t sound like they’ve presented it as fact if they’ve said ‘Christians believe that...’. I am an atheist, I have no issues with my children being taught what Christians believe (and people from all other religions). I only have an objection when they’re taught that it is fact.

mnxnt42 · 12/12/2018 16:10

It’s Christmas. The clue’s kind of in the name.

PurpleDaisies · 12/12/2018 16:10

That’s what the nativity is. That’s what Christians believe.

You shouldn’t be afraid of your dd asking questions. You can tell her you don’t believe that stuff.

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 12/12/2018 16:11

Yabu. Its literally one small conversation you have to have with your child that some people believe in the life and death of Jesus, others don't.

dippledorus · 12/12/2018 16:11

It's a nativity play?

tabulahrasa · 12/12/2018 16:11

You want a non-religious nativity play? Confused

CloserIAm2Fine · 12/12/2018 16:12

Don’t be so ridiculous.

It’s christmas. It’s a nativity. They even explicitly said “Christians believe that”

You will have a hard time coping with your child’s education over the next decade if you’re getting your knickers in a twist over this

CiderBrains · 12/12/2018 16:12

If they said "this is what Christians believe " then I would say to him "ds we aren't christian so that's not our beliefs but Christians believe it.."

It's a nice story for Christmas but if you aren't religious then just say it's what they believe.

TwistedChristmas · 12/12/2018 16:12

Seriously?? Christmas. Christ-Mass. The mass of Christ to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Yabu.

StressedToTheMaxx · 12/12/2018 16:12

It give you the opportunity to age appropiatly give a brief explanation about Xmas.
Nursery also does Diwali, Chinese New year and many more.
It's an opportunity to show diversity.
And if you think that's an awkward conversation just wait till they are older Hmm

Ohyesiam · 12/12/2018 16:12

How were the questions awkward for you op?

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2018 16:13

Dd who is under 4 is now asking "what does it mean, Jesus died?" And "should we go and look for Jesus?"

So explain it to her Confused

Blimey, you're going to have a lot more difficult questions to answer than that one throughout her life.

SoyDora · 12/12/2018 16:13

At Easter I got questions like ‘what does being crucified mean?’ from my pre schoolers!

IHopeThisIsAGoodIdea · 12/12/2018 16:13

A non-religious Christmas play... Xmas Biscuit

Vanillaradio · 12/12/2018 16:14

I wouldn't have a problem with that at all. I wouldn't find those questions awkward coming from a child and they presented it as "Christians believe that."

LMW1990 · 12/12/2018 16:14

Whether you believe or not, Christmas as a concept would not exist without the Christian faith and/or the belief in Jesus.

daffodillament · 12/12/2018 16:14

Oh do leave it out ! Its just the Nativity..its just a lovely christmas story. Its nice that your nursery have made the effort. Don't come along and upset it for them fgs !

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 12/12/2018 16:14

So you'd be okay with explaining death in this context? She wants to know what it means that Jesus died.

I also don't have an objection to them hearing about "what religions of the world believe" but this isn't presented like that. It is just Christian stuff. There are lots of children's Christmas plays about elves, pantomimes etc.

OP posts:
theaudacity · 12/12/2018 16:15

What form would a non religious nativity play take? Confused

Unicornandbows · 12/12/2018 16:15

Non religious nativity play...Hmm

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2018 16:15

bearing in mind lots of the families that use the nursery aren't believing Christians?

And that ^^ has nothing to do with it unless you think religious ignorance is a good thing?

We live in a diverse country, kids and their families need to learn about the people around them and their religious/cultural beliefs.

LagunaBubbles · 12/12/2018 16:16

I'm trying to think of what a non religious nativity play would involve, kind of difficult since the whole point of it is the birth of Jesus!

CiderBrains · 12/12/2018 16:16

LMW Christmas did exist as a concept with the winter solstice/winter festival. Christians just adapted this to convert pagans to Christianity. Jesus wasn't even born in December!

AdamNichol · 12/12/2018 16:16

As a non-Christian, I do find the ubiquity of the nativity play annoying. Even in secular settings, it's a staple of the year, with no equivalent for other events in the year or even at in December - Hanukkah, Yule, et al.