To object to a religious song at a baby class?

[SecondTimer2019]

I take my baby (6mo) to a baby sensory class and this week the theme was 'rainbows'. At the end one of the songs played was 'Who put the colours in the rainbow?', which I remember from my childhood.

It asks who created all the amazing things in the world and ends by saying things like 'It can't be chance' and 'God made all of these'.

I'm not religious and think this environment should be secular. Obviously my baby can't understand the lyrics yet but I still feel it is inappropriate.

I'm thinking of contacting the organisers to let them know my feelings.

AIBU?

I wouldn't like it either OP, would definitely find it cringey to have to sing it, but I'd mumble my way through and moan to DH when I got home. As a one off it would be alright, if they start putting religion into the sessions regularly I would reconsider going as that would make me uncomfortable. That said, if it was held at a church or hall associated with a church I'd probably expect it to happen.

But I'd add that you shouldn't feel obliged to join in with a song that you find offensive. Don't sing it if you feel uncomfortable or leave out the parts of it you don't like.

Not singing songs but DSs nursery made diwali decorations recently - secular nursery, white area. I thought it was nice.

I've also done Christian themed craft activities in a childrens centre, as well as other religions - depending on the time of year it was.

@SecondTimer2019

you're not answering the questions about where the group is held , how it is run etc.

We can't be "open to debate" if you don't answer those. If you turn round and say "The group is run in the local church hall, by the volunteer church staff" you will get different answers to "it's run by local council/Baby Sensory TM"

I would say, 'Yes, it surely can be chance! well, it's not chance is it, it's science.

We are in the era of the easily offended.
Not everything will be to your taste in life, unless it directly hurt you, humiliated you, I'd get over it.
Buy earplugs to avoid carol singers.

I'd be annoyed too if I wasn't religious. YANBU - just bear in mind if it is volunteer run they are giving up their free time.

Really? You sound mental. I'm not religious but can cope with Carols etc. Find something important to be outraged about.

Get over yourself love honestly.

@namochango1 "I'd be annoyed too if I wasn't religious. "

But would you be annoyed if this song was sung at a group led by a church group in a church hall? context is everything!

"Who put the colours in the rainbow?"

" It was the sunshine, la la, a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky!"

Your child is going to grow up hearing

I wouldn't like it either. You're right to complain, there's no need for anything religious to be going on around children.

I don’t see why it should be secular. Why?

I would feedback that it was inappropriate op - for a secular setting, paying for the class, it's... Wierd for random messaging about God to pop up. There's surely more appropriate songs about colours. I'm surprised I'm in the minority here but I really don't think a profit making secular organisation should be pushing a religious agenda on anyone, 6 months old DC of atheists or 32 year old Christian mums alike.. it's just not an appropriate setting.

As a Christian, I would say that I agree with you. My children go to a C of E school linked to our church and I still think that schools should be secular - they go there because it's the nearest one.

I honestly think that bringing my children up as Christians is my choice, I don't feel that the school has to contribute to that.

With regards to singing Christian songs at a baby group, our church ran a baby and toddler singing group - it was all about Jesus but was billed as such so I figure if people didn't like it they wouldn't come. If yours is an official sensory baby group then maybe put your point across gently.

For those saying Christmas is a Christian festival, well yes, it is now but it was actually the mid-winter festival which the church has co-opted. I gather that Jesus was born sometime in the summer in reality. I totally get that as humans it's necessary to have a mid-winter festival to alleviate the months of darkness. As a Christian, I choose that time to celebrate the birth of Jesus; I get that other people don't.

All that aside however, your baby is not going to be unduly affected either way by having God sung about in his/her presence. Nonetheless, you might find it's something s/he would welcome in her life later on. How would you deal with that?

I would be inwardly rolling my eyes, OP, but as a reassurance, DS (7) has been going to the village school (cofE, with a loopy, evangelical new vicar), and while he regularly comes home singing the ghastly religious pop ditties they sing at assembly, it’s primarily because he knows they annoy me, and he’s a sturdy little rationalist.

Yes YABU!

Jeez you are going to have a rough ride as your baby grows. When you enrol him for nursery or school you'd best let them know you want your dc to sit in a classroom on his own whilst all the other children are taking part in fun religious ceremonies and activities.
The world's gone mad!

Unless you hide yourself away this is going to be an issue for you as your child grows.

I am not religious and my kids have been raised as such.

They've sung all manner of hymns, prayed at school etc etc. I don't think state school is the place for practising religion (LEARNING about it, yes), but that's the way it is. I love a good hymn and carol.

In general I think the teachings of Christianity are good so I don't think any harm is being done. They're not being brainwashed.

At home, we have done a lot of "some people believe" etc so they understand what they are learning is someone's POV.

You’re probably being a bit unreasonable but I’d feel the same OP, I hate anything religious being shoehorned in where it shouldn’t be and I wouldn’t like someone’s imaginary friend being discussed in front of my child. But as others said the baby has no idea and some minor exposure to Christianity is inevitable in our culture through carols etc, it’s no big deal.

I’ll probably get flamed for this but I personally don’t think children should be exposed to anything religious at all until their brains are sufficiently capable of critical reasoning.

It's a babies group.... it's just a song.... pick your battles and this isn't it.

@QuantamBaby I would see it as a great learning opportunity especially as not all my extended family are Christian or atheist.

Oh and I use to sing Diwali songs as a kid.

Really surely every nursery rhyme or children's song or story has made up bits in them unless you have really seen a cow jumping over the moon or a dish running away with a spoon. Why just get offended by one that has God in it? My children go to a catholic school (Ireland) We are not catholic. My dd can say the hail mary in Irish just from picking it up from the other kids reciting it. I would rather them be singing God made a rainbow than smash by bitch up or other lyrics that they hear when they are a bit older.

Wow people are very defensive! I would be annoyed, it's a paid for activity and they should be secular unless they state otherwise. It excludes anyone who isn't Christian. Yes people could suck it up but they've been blindsided by not being given the facts before they paid for the session. Lazy and ignorant planning.

Sorry, to clarify, it's a paid-for class, run by paid staff, not volunteers. And a very good one.

I was taken aback by the use of a religious song with a very direct message out of the context of a religious festival.

I also have a son who recently made something for Diwali at nursery and, no, I don't object. It was in context and the context was discussed.

I also don't have a problem with carols at Christmas or Easter celebrations. But they have a context. I will encourage both my children to understand the context when appropriate.

I genuinely wondered why we needed this song in a commercial class about colours. But the strength of sentiment on here makes me think, ok, maybe I am being unreasonable. No, I don't have PND, but thank you to whoever took the time to ask that.

I take it all in good humour and am grateful for people taking the time to respond thoughtfully.

Of course I think it's important to learn about other cultures and religions, even if I don't believe in them.