People are fine with being disrespectful to Christians

[Flymetothezoom]

At a church playgroup. The people who run it are very devout Christians. I am taken aback, by the number of parents, who thought it was appropriate to bring their kids to the church dressed for Halloween. Kids are dressed as witches, goblins, skeletons, creepy pumpkins etc..
The church holds a light party every year on Halloween and is very clear that they do not endorse Halloween.

You've never seen any posts expressing prejudice against Muslims, Jews, Black or Asian people on here?

Is that actually what you are saying?

The churches ( and there are a lot of different denominations) are man made institutions and in different ways have moved away from Christ’s original teachings. They are flawed, as are all humans

Indeed - but unfortunately, and too often, the claim of divine authority can interfere with this being acknowledged, far less addressed

Not as much as Christianity. No. Especially the threads about Catholicism.

@ArtixLynx what does that entail? Are you a witch because of beliefs or practices?

Are those comments not generally met with accusations of bigotry though?

From what you're saying it's a playgroup that the church runs (presumably in their church hall), rather than an actual church event? If so, I don't think you can expect parents who don't worship at your church to be aware of your church's views on Halloween. I imagine that to most of the parents it's a playgroup that happens to be held in a church hall. It just wouldn't cross their minds that they should be observing your church's views on Halloween, or that dressing up in Halloween costumes is offensive in the first place. To most people who aren't religious it's just dress up and no different to dressing the kids up for World Book Day etc.

Lesson learnt for next year - make sure it's clearly communicated the Monday before Halloween that children shouldn't attend in fancy dress. I'm sure most parents will happily abide by that.

Where parents explicitly told not to let their children wear costumes and were the people who run the group offended?

Mu husband's Jewish and tbh going by his side of the family if a kid rocked up at their schul dressed as a ham sandwich they'd just flal about laughing

Both, kind of.

Pagan is to do with belief, Witch is practice. You can be a Witch without being Pagan, and a Pagan without practicing any kind of Witchcraft.

I happen to be both.

@Moonmelodies Why can't the the Christians forgive them? Is it such an alien concept?

Do you really want an answer to that question @Moonmelodies or are you just trying to score cheap points?

@Toddlerteaplease said s/he had never ever seen that happen

Not that there were or were not 'accusations of bigotry'.

Thanks for responding @ArtixLynx.
I'm going to read up on both. Sorry if my earlier comment offended - it was intended to shut up that poster who was being argumentative for the sake of it as I thought they were referring to fictional witches and didn't really consider anything else.

It would be bloody legendary. I really want the OP to do it now. Her poor child, but it would be one of the funniest things ever seen.

That’s great! I wish one of my local churches was like this.
Another church near me is huge and packed with families but the sermons and hymns are so so traditional and slow and drudgy. Does not interest the kids at all which is a shame because when they get a little older and voice their opinions, many refuse to come as it’s so boring.

Potentially a controversial opinion but I think churches should do things that serve the community, like putting on playgroups that are open to all and that don’t have an overtly Christian tone or require people to comply with Christian opinions.

Churches are also charities and the church in general is quite wealthy, not least because of all the land it owns. Giving back to the community is both right and the Christian thing to do surely?

There is a total dearth of playgroups and other facilities for children and parents where I live, not least because the council has closed down all the local sure start centres / children’s centres and is considering cuts to things like libraries and their staff. The council points people towards the various churches and Quaker halls that either run kids activities directly or rent out their spaces, in the absence of other facilities. So loads of parents regardless of faith go there. I seriously doubt most of them would think bringing a toddler dressed up in a costume they’ve probably picked for themselves would be a provocation or upsetting to the church - especially as plenty of Christians also now see that halloween is just another fun festival, and don’t see it as encouraging pagan worship!!

So which is it - you've never ever seen any negative comments about Muslims, Jews, Asian or Black people - or is it that it's not as much ? Because that's quite a big change already from what you said earlier.

*If I "threaten" a serial adulterer with punishment for breaking the laws of God, I am denounced.

But of course, I am a hypocrite.

This thread highlights how far the West has fallen.*

so it’s not about the adultery itself (although why would it be, when the whole reason the CofE exists is due to adultery? It’s not like religious belief has ever stopped people), it’s about the fact that your threats are now considered to be laughable and more inclined to to inspire a ‘fuck off’ rather than reverential fear? So, entirely about your ego then?

”the west has fallen because no one takes me seriously anymore and I don’t like it!”

lmao, ok.

It’s been rather refreshing to hear from more moderate Christians on this thread.

I have seen more disrespect by people calling themselves Christians on this site than people insulting Christianity. I myself have been called a baby killer numerous times on this forum by “Christians” who disagree with a woman’s right to choose. In real life I have been screamed at in the street by preachers and told I am going to hell unless I repent.

I also find the comment about British people using the church as a backdrop to life events laughable. Churches are run like businesses but do not pay any tax and receive government grants to upkeep historic buildings. They are either a historically important part of our culture and therefore available to all or they are for their own worshippers only, in which case no government money. Particularly for the schools that the church pay a tiny amount to but get to dictate admissions criteria.

I have also seen Jewish people held to task over circumcision on this forum but I think like with many subjects most people from the UK know more about Christianity through schooling and cultural influences so know it’s flaws to criticise it more than other religions.

I don't know how you can disagree. Which church are you talking about? Christianity is what Jesus taught . It's a set of teachings.
The church either refers to all Christians as a group, or a specific group of Christians.

OP, may I ask again: what do the people who run the playgroup think?

How is this glorifying darkness? This verse is an illustration of how God sees everything - everything done in the darkness will be brought to the light. Jesus calls Himself the light of the world.
Another example of someone quoting from the Bible without context or understanding.

@YouSirNeighMmmm If it is, then christians telling me or implying that I will go to hell and burn for eternity for my beliefs and the way I live my life is infinitely more disrectful to me than any disrespect I could show them

Firstly I am curious to know who has told you that, and secondly if you don't believe it, then it doesn't matter does it?

It's ok.

Its an annoyance a lot of us that choose to go back to the Old Ways have.. Christianity warped everything that Witches are because of turning the Celtic Pagan Sun God into Satan...etc, they took everything and warped it, making us evil, making our Gods evil, burying our Goddess and banning our practices.

I mean, yes, a lot of what Paganism today is from 20th century revival and bits of history, but through those we find Our paths and beliefs.

The 'fictional' witch might not be real, but you have to remember where that Fictional Witch originates.. and its from Christianity's attempt to stamp out the Celtic Paganism that was at the heart of Britain before Christianity arrived with the Romans, and its misogyny and hatred of powerful women.

There is a church playgroup near us that posted a notice through our door very explicitly saying all were welcome and there would be toys, snacks and secular nursery rhymes for a cost of £3.

A couple of weeks later a guy who runs the group came and knocked on our door and said he was coming round the local houses to tell people about the new group and had we got the flyer. We said yes, that it sounded great and was there any religious element to it. He said no there wasn’t and we explained that we just wanted to check as we were Jewish and gay.

He looked very taken aback, and said, right well there isn’t an explicitly religious aspect to the group but we do talk about Jesus and welcome children into the faith, so your son (18 months old) would be welcome regardless of whether you wanted to come as a couple. Perhaps your boy can talk about which one of the twelve tribes of Israel he descends from, after all, Jews are early Christians aren’t they.

Suffice to say we did not go….

There is a man who stands on a step in my local high street yelling this at passers by. To think it doesn’t matter to say something you believe is awful to someone is really quite disgusting actually.