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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask religious MIL to respect our views?

392 replies

Namedilema123 · 28/12/2018 16:14

PIL are Christians. DH is atheist. Im not atheist but not religious at all and find it all a bit culty.

MIL is always talking about Jesus and God to my 4yo and 2yo. She plays religious nursery rhymes when she looks after them. For Christmas has bought them a Childs First Bible and Child's First Prayer Book. How do i broach this subject? It makes me feel so uncomfortable. Its not so much the religion itself but more it being taught as blind fact, rather than just stories or that some people believe it, others don't. would be much happier if other religions were spoken about too. Or AIBU?

OP posts:
DeepanKrispanEven · 30/12/2018 17:38

Why are atheists so afraid of exposing their children to Christianity? If it’s all nonsense, why care?

I think it's more a question of objecting to it rather than being afraid of it. There are a number of reasons. For instance, it's because there are more important things that they need to be doing at school. Or because some Christians believe that it is their duty to evangelise and will put a lot of pressure on children for that purpose. Self-evidently, children are much more vulnerable to that sort of pressure. Or because there is a bit of a nasty track record of child abuse within Christian churches. Yes, organisations like Christian Aid do good, but then so do lots of non-religious organisations without the overtones of wanting to convert the natives/the poor that have motivated that sort of help in the past.

Or do you think the 2.4 billion Christians in the world might actually be right, and that your children are loved by God, redeemed by Jesus, and comforted by the Holy Spirit - and that would clash with your scornful rejection of that love?

Nope.

onlyindreams · 30/12/2018 17:40

So i suppose Islam is a real force for good. Confused The thing is, before you start tearing into one particular religion and pointing out the bad things, try to include the evil stuff about other religions, otherwise it looks like you’re being biased. I’m sure you’ll find plenty to go at.

PoutySprout · 30/12/2018 17:41

Oh, don’t worry. I despise all religion equally.

onlyindreams · 30/12/2018 17:42

That was to poutysprout*

PoutySprout · 30/12/2018 17:42

You were talking about christianity’s Force for good, though. And it clearly isn’t. Far from it.

PoutySprout · 30/12/2018 17:43

Imagine having the power and money to end poverty and hardship and......... telling everyone else they should do it instead. Blessed indeed.

Bluelady · 30/12/2018 17:46

There isn't A Christian church. Catholicism isn't the same as Methodism. As for comparing one of the oldest and most universal religions to British Gas - words fail me. While religion may not deserve respect, surely those people who believe in it should be accorded some.

Bluelady · 30/12/2018 17:47

Bit like the government, Pouty.

onlyindreams · 30/12/2018 17:47

poutysprout but it’s only Christianity that it’s ok to speak out about? Saying “I hate all religions”isn’t quite the same.

Badadadum · 30/12/2018 17:50

Why are atheists so afraid of exposing their children to Christianity? If it’s all nonsense, why care? Not afraid but children are vulnerable and MIL should not be forcing religion on them while we stay at her house, that isn't the deal - and thankfully she respects that. My mother would introduce the God thing either out of respect for me. Dh looked over the children's bible his mother gave the dcs (she gave it to us to hand on if we were comfortable and I think if it was just the bible in bright colours we'd have been fine but it was heavily edited and interpreted to suit the JW message and we were not comfortable with that.
Now the dcs are 15 they are well able to determine what they are interested in for themselves, they have studied Christianity at school in an intellectual way - they will feel no guilt for living a life without religion if that's what they choose and unlike me I hope they'll be more tolerant of religious views because it was never forced on them.

Badadadum · 30/12/2018 17:52

Imagine having the power and money to end poverty and hardship and......... telling everyone else they should do it instead. Blessed indeed Apparently God makes people poor and ill to give the rest of us the opportunity through free choice to help them...that's ok then.Confused

PoutySprout · 30/12/2018 17:54

Erm, you started on about Christian aid. Hmm

PoutySprout · 30/12/2018 17:56

There isn't A Christian church. Catholicism isn't the same as Methodism. As for comparing one of the oldest and most universal religions to British Gas - words fail me. While religion may not deserve respect, surely those people who believe in it should be accorded some.

Good point. British Gas haven’t stolen festivals (eg Xmas, Easter) and forced people to convert to them by threatening torture and murder if they don’t accept their ludicrous (also stolen) stories as the truth.

Still struggling to see it as a force for anything but it’s own interests.

PoutySprout · 30/12/2018 17:56

Christianity (in all its forms), that is.

Florries · 30/12/2018 18:08

We were told as children that if we didn't believe, the devil would get us and we'd all go to hell.

I was also told that a murderer or rapist that believed in god would to to heaven but my poor nana who was slowly dieing from dementia would go to hell because she didn't attend church and wasn't christened...

onlyindreams · 30/12/2018 18:14

poutysprout yes i mentioned that because of a comment about it being a poisonous force, which like all religions, some much more poisonous than others i should add, the good side cannot be ruled out.

FixItUpChappie · 30/12/2018 18:17

Why are atheists so afraid of exposing their children to Christianity? If it’s all nonsense, why care

A common and bizarre refrain IMO. From an atheists POV why would I want my children to be influenced by "nonsense"? Why would you expect atheists to not object? Confused

Bluelady · 30/12/2018 18:23

Cartoons, pantomime, fairy stories - all nonsense. Nobody can consider themselves well educated without knowledge of the world's main religions, of which Christianity is one.

onlyindreams · 30/12/2018 18:24

poutysprout but what about the vile sides of other religions? seems strange to pick on Christianity when you consider that nearly all the wars in the world at this moment in time are being done in the name of Islam. Is that not vile?

Badadadum · 30/12/2018 18:25

@Florries that is horrid. A woman who professed to being Christisn thought it wise to state quite bluntly that a mum who died of breast cancer would not being going to heaven because she did not believe in god - I know it's sounding like believing in Santa and Fairies but there was no comedy in that comparison - there was no need to speak of such things even if she did believe that crap - it was a shitty, nasty thing to say. And that's what religion is used for a way to degrade and punish people - a force for good? - it's balanced with the the shitty bad things they have done in the name of religion - of which there are many. And I am talking about Christianity because it is all that I know!

Badadadum · 30/12/2018 18:26

Nobody can consider themselves well educated without knowledge of the world's main religions, of which Christianity is one. Equally they'd have to know of Greek Myths, Gods and Legends.

Purpleartichoke · 30/12/2018 18:31

Religion teaches children that there is a being superior to them. It encourages reliance on said being instead of self-sufficiency, even if it is only emotionally. Many religions legitimize the idea that a person can be judged by the quality of their worship not the quality of their choices.

There is no positive message in religious stories that can’t be imparted by stories without the associated baggage.

QwertyLou · 30/12/2018 18:31

There is no Christian Church.

The Catholic Church (which is the richest religion) does not crack the top ten (richest organisations).

The abuse of children and the cover ups are unforgivable. Nobody could say otherwise.

I have been fortunate to both experience and witness religion as a force for good - I know others have not been.

Did OP come back and I missed it? Or was it just a stirry post and run?Smile

Bluelady · 30/12/2018 18:34

Yes, Greek myths too - and your point is?

Badadadum · 30/12/2018 18:38

Yes, Greek myths too - and your point is? Well rounded education does beyond current religions...extends to past believe systems too.

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