To not want my 3 year old to come out of nursery telling me that Jesus died on the cross but came alive later?

[ptangyangkipperbang]

DS3 is 3 and goes to a nursery affiliated to the local church school. However, it is a nursery for all local schools, not just the church one. Even if he was going to the church school I would still think 3 is a bit young for this, but he is going to a different school. Do I just bite my tongue when he announces with absolute certainty what the Easter story is?

My dc's don't go to a church school but where we live is quite religious and Christian and they learn about Jesus and the bible ect. I'm not of any religion, and although I'm not thrilled about them learning this stuff, I accept that this is where we live and this is what they'll be taught at school.
When they talk about what they've learnt I say 'really, how interesting' and we discuss what they say, but I also tell them that there are other religions in this world and a lot of people believe in different things ect.

I do get a bit annoyed sometimes that they don't learn about other religions at all, but they are only primary age so maybe that will come later.

They should be learning about other religions as well as Christianity in schools, as although RE isn't statutory, if you teach about one you have to teach about them all (the major religions anyway). It just so happens Easter is coming, most schools do Chinese New Year, Diwali, Eid, etc. too. Or they should if they don't.

YABU- because its totally true.

PTYKB: sorry, but if it's a nursery affiliated to a church school, what do you expect? So what if it's a nursery for all local schools, it's religious links are clear, so what's the pronblem? If you feel very uncomfortable, is there another nursery you canput your dc in?

YABU

I would object just because I think a 3 year-old is far too young to understand what it means to "die on a cross". I think for a 3 year old is much better to connect easter and chocolate than easter and man dying on a cross (for our sins). If Christians think this is a need-to-know for a 3 year-old I find it weird.

I think 3 is a little young to grasp the concept of the resurrection, unless a child is from a christian background where this story is taught as fact and is just part of the background of life.

Do many 3 year olds who haven't suffered a bereavement really understand the concept of dying?

Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised that a church affiliated nursery would try to tell the Easter story. Maybe you could balance it out with some stories about giant bunny rabbits laying eggs?

yabu

There's plenty of contemporary evidence of the life of Jesus - even the staunchest atheist wouldn't deny that someone of that name was around in 1st Century Palestine, gathered a large following and got the Romans' backs up.
I think Jesus was a historical figure and had some sensible teachings, but I don't personally believe they were divinely inspired (as I don't believe in "the divine"). I don't think he was the son of "God" because I don't think any such thing called "God" exists outside the minds of men and women.

Surely we'd have words to say if our children came home talking literally about the actions of Zeus and Ra and Thor, rather than treating each of them as one imaginative interpretation of the world's mysteries.

What do you really expect from a church affiliated nursery?

Well if you don't want him to know about the religious nature of Easter then don't send him toa church affiliated nursery. He obviously remembered the story and understood some of it or he would not have remembered it to tell you.

YABVU.

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It is late and I confess to not having read all posts.

However, I think that to compare the stories of a religion to a fictional child's story is disingenous.

Most children's stories do come with such detailed and prescriptive doctrine attached.

It feels to me that whilst my children believing that the BFG is real is inaccurate and certainly not true, it is different to them believing in Jesus as a man who was actually the son of God and was resurrected.

One has much more embedded in it than the other.

In answer to the OP, I too would feel uncomfortable if religious stories (Christian or otherwise) were not qualified with 'some people think that...'

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Sorry I meant disingenuous of posters who made comparison.

Just that it rather puts up false comparisons and is misleading.

Oh dear, I would be very distressed at ds at 3 learning the Jesus Easter story. It is quite heavy.

I think the age is too young to grasp this stuff and a bit that it is peddled at toddlers frankly.

Unquietdad, there is also an historical assertion that 'Jesus' was an amalgamation of various propheteers of the time all preaching the same or pretty similar message

I don't see how you can celebrate Easter with giving chocolate eggs and then not mention, in simple term, suitable to the age,why it is done. (It may also be a pagan thing but this country has a Christian culture and the giving of eggs is from the Christian festival of Easter).There was a similar thread about Ash Wednesday-people cook pancakes on Pancake Day (i.e. Shrove Tuesday) and then get upset when their DCs are told about Ash Wednesday. You can't pick the fun things and leave out the bits you don't like. If you don't like the Easter story don't give eggs on Easter Sunday-pick your own spring day and do it for new life in Spring! Why use 23rd March this year-choose your own? To take the day of the Christian Festival and then object to an explanation is being unreasonable IMO.

AbbeyA, as matter of fact most of the people I know buy easter eggs because they like chocolate and love to see the smiles on kids faces when they get one.

Around the 25th december we use the longer holidays to get together in families and exchange presents. We do this because we want to. We did it before christianity came along and will do so after christianity is just a footnote in history books. Even most christians will tell you that early christians just picked a holiday that already existed and declared it to be christ's birthday as well.

The eggs are nothing to do with christ, but are from a pagen ceremony involving sex and pregnancy

The hot cross buns, the xmas tree, the yule log, the singing (chanting) are all prechristian

So I'm sorry to say you have it backwards and if unhappy about us simply enjoying ourselves on those days should move your religious ceremony to whatever day it used to be.

to the op. quite frankly, what do you expect a church affiliated nursery to teach them? polytheism? or atheism?
three is way way too old to be learning this for the first time. he should have learnt this from a much much much younger age. (i'm not a christian) you are not oly being unreasonable, but completely and utterly out of order. the school will be a better place when people like you no longer go there.
i am so angry that opinions like this can be given air time. [anger]

and i am NOT a christian

You are being totally unreasonable. You sent him to a nursery affiliated to a church - what do you expect? If you want him to learn about the easter bunny and the importance of chocolate in the celebration of Easter move him.

pukka, I think your posts are incredibly rude and aggressive and I strongly object to them.

"three is way way too old to be learning this for the first time. he should have learnt this from a much much much younger age."#

what? are you serious? why? what age should they be taught about jesus dying on the cross then?

I think your post is, quite frankly, weird.

feel free to object.
i strongly object to the attitude of the op. and i am expressing my feelings. i dont feel i am being rude. i think i am being quite restrained under the circumstances.
and i repeat. i am NOT a christian