3 year old being taught to pray at nursery, aibu to not be comfortable with this?

[arobynw]

Hello fellow mums,

Been umming and erring over posting all weekend as religion is such a sensitive subject and I admit that because I don’t follow any religion (atheist), I’m worried I may unintentionally offend someone. If I do, I’m sorry! I’m happy to be educated!

My 3 year old son goes to an amazing nursery and has done since he was 11 months old. They follow an effective curriculum and he has grown and developed so much in their care.

Last week, he moved up to nursery school as he has just turned 3 years old. He has found the move very overwhelming but we expected it as it’s a big move. By Wednesday, we were sat down having a small tea together and I was sure I heard him say “need to say prayers” but that was it. On Thursday, we picked him up early as it was his birthday so we had a proper dinner all together. I had started eating and he told me “no no no no! You haven’t said prayers!” I was confused but asked him to say the prayers. His speech isn’t the clearest yet, but I definitely made out amen at the end.

I haven’t told him not to say prayers or shown to him that I’ve been uncomfortable, just thanked him and ate dinner.

I do not have a problem with people following religion, so long as it’s not forced on anyone who doesn’t wish to follow a religion. I am also fine with my son following a religion if he wishes, however I want him to have the ability to make that informed decision on his own when he is old enough to think for himself.

his nursery is not a CoE nursery and he’s never done prayers here previously so I was quite surprised that he is very clearly saying prayers now. If it was simply saying thanks for food etc I’d be ok with that, but there is definitely a religious theme to the prayers.

there are 24 kids in his room and I don’t want to be awkward and cause a stink or make things difficult for his incredible key workers, but I do feel uncomfortable as I feel like it’s being forced upon him.

is my lack of knowledge in this area the problem rather than what’s happening? Am I being unreasonable? What should I do?

thank you all

Ladies don't get me wrong l am not here to force anyone into my believe but just making my point like everyone else.

All that we all have to know is Jesus Christ Loves us all equally whether we are Christians or not without us having to do anything to deserve His love.

I agree they are good people in the world who are not Christians because humans know and do good things, not necessarily because they believe the existence of God, but because God actually does exist. So our morality doesn't dependent on our belief in god's existence, yet it is entirely dependent on the fact of His existence.

May Peace Be With You All

All that we all have to know is Jesus Christ Loves us all equally whether we are Christians or not without us having to do anything to deserve His love.

Equally? Yet you presumably believe that only Christians will go to the heaven you believe in? But not people who are kind and loving all their life but atheists? So not that equal then, within the framework you believe in.

@TunnocksOrDeath Really, stop panicking. The OP doesn't know whether it's forced babe. Thats really extreme assumptions/ideas you have there. Calm down, I'm sure it will sort itself.

Nobody ever said only Christians will go to heaven, whoever said that its not true because nobody knows who is going to heaven or not its not up to us to decide only God the creator of Heaven and Earth will decide according to all our deeds here on earth because bad or good nothing is hidden in his eyes.

Below is a verse will help you understand what l am trying to say , if you read the Bible yourself you will find out the truth ,don't listen to only Christians but we own ourselves to read the Bible and find out yourself Who God said will go to heaven and who doesn't.

Matthew 7:21 ESV
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven"

What has this got to do with the nursery owner insisting 3 year olds say a prayer before a meal? Thank God I don’t go to church of any kind - yes I get the irony!

@AJK26

Is posting vague preachy paragraphs on this thread late at night your new hobby?

Hmm, I dunno but I'm torn.
I mean I can completely see where you're coming from, you don't want religion pushing on your child, but then again the kid in me at primary school in the 80s says I grew up knowing how to recite the Lords Prayer and also know of grace before meals, doesn't mean you have to practise them at home! Just explain in 4 year old terms, some people say Grace but not everyone does, each to their own 🙂

Ladies don't get me wrong l am not here to force anyone into my believe but just making my point like everyone else.

You are preaching and actually not making any points, just preaching.

I was replying to monsteramunch's question, that is all

So I can equally argue God doesn't exist because bad people exist and bad things happen all the time? And "we" don't know Jesus exists, you have faith He does.

As someone who was raised without religion, I find that further evidence against the existence of God tbh, surely I'd feel something missing if it wasn't just made up.

People are typically good because they have empathy, no diety required.

Whose panicking? Just pointing out that some people have such a poor education that they cant grasp the difference between taught about religion, and being taught to practice one; which is what must be happening if this little boy is telling his own mother that she can't start eating before she's prayed. He certainly didn't come to that conclusion by independent theological study in the non-fiction section of the nursery's book corner, did he?

Did you ever find out if its the nursery teaching him this?

@OMG12

And what reason would that be?

I don’t know, that’s why I asked the question. What are your thoughts??

I don’t think it would bother me. I went to a regular primary school, we said the lord’s prayer during assembly and sang hymns. It didn’t do me any harm 🤷‍♀️

Pretty much all Christian belief says only Christians will go to heaven. Some try to pretty it up with "but if you repent etc" which you must do fast if your plane is crashing and then you will BE a Christian before it hits the ground so it's still Christians only.

That verse means either "Do as I told you" OR "Guess what I want you to do" either way you don't know what to do.

If you think you can guess what he wants that would like guessing the lottery numbers every week.

You can't go by the bible as the god of the old testament (mass murderer of children) and Jesus are entirely different.

if it is Jesus than that's tough on those who were born and died before he came along. They were supposed to guess what he expected before he existed?

Oh and if you're ever unsure about the morality of people pushing their religion onto your child try to picture the child of a Muslim forced to say that Jesus is god and the child of a Jew being handed a mat and told to say that Allah is the only god.

You asked the question in a matter thst suggests you have your own opinion. Personally I'd say its down to them being selective.

Yes I agree that the selection criteria applied to the children is probably the driver.

So not really related to your comment about religious Intolerance then.

In what way?

Just your comment suggested that you thought they were connected but apparently not.

Fair enough😀