To think buying a Bible is not the same as forcing religion on a child?

[Popcornn]

For context: I am not religious, however I have always been of the mindset that religion is a personal thing and that it should be up to an individual to decide what they believe.

DD recently started going to a CofE school. She has been learning about Jesus and the Nativity and has always been a very curious child. She has lots of questions Christianity that I didn't feel qualified to answer because I didn't learn these things due to a very anti-religious family. So when I saw a children's Bible in a bookshop the other day I decided to buy it. My intention being to read through it alone first and then if questions came up again we could look at it together and discuss it. My DP didn't like this because although he agrees that it should be DDs choice, he feels like it's forcing it on her and that these questions could've easily been answered at school.

I want DD to continue to be curious and to feel comfortable asking these questions at home. I'll always do what I can to help her learn about the things that she's interested in, even if it's not necessarily what I believe. But DP thinks I've crossed a line. AIBU?

Im a strong atheist but I think the bible is great for stories, it is a story book ultimately and can be used as you like.

I see it no different to the other great works like Decameron, Canterbury Tales, 1001 Nights, stories of stories of stories, with 'human' characters

Personally I would be using examples of some of the bible characters as examples of what not to do, rather than holding them up as virtuous!

Well as the child is attending a Church school it seems totally appropriate to me

Absolutely not. The same as reading Greek and Roman myths. YANBU. Teaching your child about religion isn't forcing anything.

This isn't a good text though as it will be very biased (obviously) and so not help with curiosity about religion.

This. I'm a lecturer in a literature department, and I swear it takes me longer every year to teach certain texts because I now have to explain basic Bible stories (say, Genesis for Paradise Lost) before even getting to the text, because my students, even those from a nominally Christian background, aren't at all familiar with them. Some literature departments have 'Bible as Literature' courses, which I think would be very interesting.

Buying a kids bible for a child is not 'forcing' a religion on her. She's asked questions and you are giving her information and allowing her to make up her own mind - not telling her what to believe. I'm surprised that your DP has such an issue with her seeing a kids bible given that she's going to a CofE school.

A lot of art and music is based on biblical themes, so familiarity with Bible stories will help with understanding.

Letting a child make their own decision, but refusing them the tools in order to make that decision, is not letting them make their own decision. It's limiting their ability to make that choice by censoring their reading. He doesn't sound like he really wants her to make her own choice at all

Are you going to buy her other religious texts too such as the Quran or the Torah?

I don't think a childrens' bible is going to force religion on to a child who attends a religious school.

I think that is part of DP's concern. That there's nothing to counter the bias of it. But I have always been careful to not say that it's true or false. I say that some people believe this, some don't. That it is her decision what she believes. And I remind her to always be respectful of other people who believe in something else.

Your daughter goes to a CoE school and your husband is concerned that buying a child's version of the bible is forcing religion on her! There's some cracking cognitive dissonance going on there...that aside, reading about religious stories doesn't force religion on you.

Being indoctrinated through daily behaviour does.

The Bible, and Bible stories, (and especially the King James Bible) are an important part of the literary and cultural heritage of the UK. How often do you hear references to a Good Samaritan or a Prodigal Son? Or David and Goliath?

Yes, if that is something that she wanted to understand and learn more about, I 100% would.

I personally would be uncomfortable if dh bought a bible for any of our dc as we are not Christian. That doesn't mean it's 'wrong' or 'forcing religion' on anyway. It would just make me feel uncomfortable. In the same way I wouldn't buy them a copy of the Torah or the Quran. But I would buy them a book about religion(s) so they could read about them and ask questions. To be fair, the Bible is pretty boring reading anyway, even the children's versions, so I don't think it would do any harm, just might not achieve what you're hoping.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a DC having access to a bible, but only having a bible and no other religious texts is clearly conveying a message about the importance of Christianity above other religions.

I wouldn't want anyone else to buy my child a bible but I equally wouldn't choose a religious school.
I don't believe by buying once it is forcing it on a child but seems an odd contradiction with a religious school. The context behind how the book is presented would be key for me.

I'm an agnostic. The Bible is an important cultural reference point as indeed are the scriptures of other major religions; I see it as a good thing to have read at least some of it, and it will stand your DD in good stead to have done so in the later stages of her education - especially for subjects like English Literature and History. You could balance this with age-appropriate materials giving texts/stories from other religions.

We're not Christian but I went to a CofE school and I got given three Bibles and we had Scripture classes. They taught us creationist history.

I'm still not Christian nor do I rank it above other faiths. I did a geology degree.

How can she make her own choices if her questions aren't being answered?? A Bible is a good way to help her as long as it put in the context of this is what a Christian believes. Wonder if your partner has the same issue when it comes to celebrating Christian celebrations such as Christmas and Easter!

To me it’s the same as giving access to flat earth conspiracy and not telling them it’s untrue but asking them to make up their own mind. God doesn’t exist so suggesting he does and it’s a choice whether to believe is completely odd to me.

It's a book. One of the seminal works of world literature, in fact. That is reason enough to have it in the home.

Was your DH asleep when you were choosing this C of E school? Yes of course they'll answer her questions- in a way that promotes Christianity! Does he not realise what goes on there?

At least with the Bible at home you can look at it together and have critical discussions. Seriously, the horse bolted and the stable door closed as soon as you took up the school place- that was the time for him to take a stand about atheism.

It’s about presentation. If framed properly, your book selection is fine. Given that she is already at a COE school though, it is really just piling on. It will require careful context from you that these are the mythologies of just one of many religions.

I would have probably looked for a text that tried to cover the myths of multiple world religions at an age appropriate level. That would be more likely to present them in a neutral manner instead of with endorsement.

If she's asking the questions, she should be able to get the answers.