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?

Purpleartichoke

That’s probably a good idea if it’s that important to you.

There are many religious songs in the world, and many religions, they will cross your child's path frequently.

Help them navigate their way through life with an open mind and a kind and tolerant heart. Taking offence to a religious child's song is a bit uncalled for.

You recognise the song from your childhood and yet you still grew up and formed your own beliefs, let your child do the same.

YABU.

No Marvin Gaye songs?
No Gospel songs?
No 'What If Go Was One of Us'?
No 'You Found me"?
No 'God is a DJ'?

What a lack of musical choice.

WHO MADE SNAILS AND WHALES AND QUAILS?

Obvious when you think of it, they evolved:)

Simples:)

Help them navigate their way through life with an open mind and a kind and tolerant heart. Taking offence to a religious child's song is a bit uncalled for.

You cannot possibly avoid all religious references is songs so YABU.

On the other hand parents are frequently unreasonable. I run story and rhyme sessions at work and we've been told not to include the line 'a bottle of rum to fill my tum' in the Pirate Song because some ridiculous parents complained. Also had complaints about the Jeelly Piece Song, damned is I can figure out why.

You object to one religious song but I bet you don’t object to Christmas do you which is also religious. Your baby is 6 months old I highly doubt they where even paying any attention to the lyrics.

but I bet you don’t object to Christmas do you which is also religious

I can’t speak for the OP but literally not one element of my Christmas break is religious!

Yeah, got to agree Christmas is not necessarily Christian. The only mention of Christianity in our Christmas is in the word Christmas.

We'll also be calling tomorrow Thursday while happily thinking the God of Thunder is made up nonsense.

I'm looking forward to when your child starts school and they are part of the nativity!!

"I can’t speak for the OP but literally not one element of my Christmas break is religious!"
Apart from the Christmas bit?

Christmas is actually what’s written on the tin, ffs!

Christmas is for many of us a cultural rather than a religious thing.

Did the OP say she was worried about her baby being converted to Christianity? Lots of posters alluding to this, but I must have missed it.

That would never be a concern of mine, wouldn't even cross my mind. Doesn't mean I want references to Christianity and particularly it rhymed off as indisputable fact, everywhere I go.

I can’t speak for the OP but literally not one element of my Christmas break is religious!

So what are you actually celebrating at Christmas then? Why not celebrate it at another time of year?

I go to a volunteer run 'payment only covers the hall and tea' type group run by a local church where they do all secular songs (because they bill it as a group for everyone and they don't want to put people off). Occasionally a toddler will request a 'churchy one' and they do do it but always make it clear no one has to join in (I generally do). It's a lovely group.

I have been to similar church run groups that do a Bible story/church songs, and decided that wasn't for me so just don't attend.

I also go to paid classes run by peope who earn their living that way, and all our songs are secular, including Christmas songs (there are hundreds of secular Christmas songs!), and if they did a religious song there it would be highly inappropriate (not what I signed up for) and I would complain in the first instance and ask for my money back if it continued.

As it sounds like OP is talking about the last kind of group I think yanbu.

Oh and Christmas has its roots in a pagan holiday that long pre-dates christianity. It's obviously most commonly known as 'Christmas' now but the name alone doesn't make it religious for us that don't believe! It can be a cultural celebration.

I'm not religious but went to a Methodist school. Lots of happy memories of singing hymns in assembly, harvest festival ect. I take my son to messy play at church, go to church nursery groups ect...still not religious though 🤷🏾‍♀️ just cherry picking the bits I like

If you find it so hard to reconcile yourself to a religious festival why not do what my non- Christian relatives did and just do some diy on the day. No booze, no pressies, no decorations.
Or ... you can just go with it. Not get hung up about its religious origin and don't make a big deal about the fact some people like to.

So what are you actually celebrating at Christmas then? Why not celebrate it at another time of year?

Because it's not our fault the Christian church tried to hijack a longstanding wintertime feast and celebration time I'd guess.

Christmas is just a word. The northern European tradition of eating, drinking and being merry in the depths of winter is way older than Christianity.

If you want to make yours about Jesus that's great, but I'm not giving up my eating , drinking and being merry for anyone.

@magicautumnalhues - there's a mumsnet madness Twitter?? How did I miss that...off to investigate right now (looks furtively over shoulder at pile of laundry crying "Wash me! Wash me!"

The school I went to wasn't particularly religious but we still did have assembly with a morning prayer and a hymn. I don't think it's done me any lasting harm - I mean, you know, beyond the fact that Samhain is now my very favouritest festival and I have a fondness for black cats, stripey stockings and pointy hats.....

I'm just wondering whether singing Christmas songs referring to Santa, angels, talking reindeer and other mythical beings is going to cause any distress... and oh, my goodness, there's still the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny to come yet!

So what are you actually celebrating at Christmas then? Why not celebrate it at another time of year?

Well for a start because school holidays are pretty much set in stone, and most of my clients have a shut down over Xmas so it’s a great chance to unwind with family.

Plus the food you get at christmas is cracking

So what are you actually celebrating at Christmas then? Why not celebrate it at another time of year?“
Tradition. Culture. Because everyone else is. And because Christian privilege determines when the days off are.

Apart from the Christmas bit?

Cultural not religious. Happily refer to it as a “lovely winter break” but it gets a bit tiresome after a while when “Christmas” is self-explanatory.