Jesus held on the cross with nails in his hands

[TaFox]

DD5 is in year 1 and has been learning about Jesus at school. Great stuff in the spirit of Easter.

The RE teacher told the class how Jesus was NAILED to the cross.

This is quite graphic for a little girl who believes that the Easter bunny will leave eggs in our garden.

Should I tell school that this is too much info for little ears?

We celebrate Easter our way but it’s nothing to do with religion.

This.

I may be wrong but I don't think so and certainly not during Passover!

We don’t believe in Christ so will stick to our Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs.

Catholic schools are likely to have crucifixes depicting a naked, bleeding man nailed to a cross in all classrooms. As one of the former Catholic schoolchildren in question, I didn’t even register it. None of us did. It was essentially wallpaper.

It was only when a C of E friend was contemplating sending her child to a Catholic primary after a move, went to visit one, and came out blanched, saying ‘There was a crucifix on the Reception classroom wall!” that I registered it as in any way unusual or that could be considered as liable to appall small children.

Look up 'Josephus, Flavius'. First century Roman historian (pseudo-historian, some would say) refers to Jesus and crucifixion.

Off topic but I was once (on uni placement) asked to interpret 'felch'.

I find it interesting that people on here get upset about some Bible stories but then suggest a 'Noah's Ark' toy as a christening present.

I mean it's a toy based on a genocide.

Also anyone with kids in RC schools, there is likely to be a 3D depiction on the wall of their classroom.

There is no evidence of Jesus in Roman records.

One of the first mentions of him by Jewish Roman historian is wrote in 93 AD by Flavius Josephus and is wrote that differently to the rest of his work is suspected to be a fake inserted by the church.

The gospels don't really prove anything and are likely a work of fiction.

A lot of people will say historians agree Jesus existed is isn't strictly true as most historians and scholars who are employed to look into Jesus are funded by the church and aren't impartial.

My 5 year old did ancient Egyptians and her little project was a bout momified cats. We put photos of them, the kids loved it.
OP Easter is definitely not about bunnies, it is the most important festivity on the Christian calendar, where those who believe commemorate the crucifixion of Christ and his resurrection on the third day. No idea where bunnies come in.
My daughter attends a Catholic school and her take from this story is that his mum Mary was crying a lot and she (and her friends) were very sorry for her. Kids are weird little things, they have their own points of view.

And look up when Josephus was born.

Written decades after Jesus supposedly lived though, right?

So were the gospels. The disciples expected the second coming to be in their lifetimes, didn't write anything down for ages.

My then five year old was horrified by the Easter story. It came hard on the heels of Christmas and I remember her asking me: "Did they really nail baby Jesus to a cross? Really? With nails?" She hadn't understood that the story involved an adult. I explained, but it made me want to weep that we think it's fine to tell tiny children about torture like this. Still, since we do, I felt free to use the story for my own propaganda.

In the story, a man is tortured and killed by an occupying army. His own religious leaders help the army, because they are angry that the man says what he thinks, and not what they want him to say. The religious part is the miracle of the resurrection - I explained that some people believe it, but it happened a long time ago and we now know that people cannot come back to life after dying. I choose instead to tell the kids about free societies, the rule of law, free speech and freedom of belief.

Before her first Easter in school, I was much more gentle and only told her 'some people believe'. I didn't tell her they were wrong. When they taught my five year old about torture, in such a careless way that she thought they were talking about nailing a baby to a plank, it freed me up to tell her that religion is a lie, made up to keep the people in line - and that she should just ignore it.

I'm an atheist and I have no idea why they need to be teaching such graphic details of history in schools at such a young age in the name of religion. I think all schools should be secular and not trying to ram this stuff down kids throats from the minute they start school. They should just learn about all religions in an age appropriate way - and crucifixion isn't age appropriate for 5 year olds.

I don't know what 'worse' things kids are hearing at 5 years old than someone being nailed to a cross.

So I'm with you completely OP.

The gospels were not written by Jesus's disciples, none of the gospels were written by eye witnesses.

I really fear for future generations. Seriously get a grip. You are bringing her up to be a snowflake 🙄Easter is about Jesus not bunnies.

It's almost as though the whole thing was made up.

Yep. There is no other context in which anyone would think telling four and five year olds about torture methods is completely fine.

Well when people were crucified they'd hardly do it with garlands of flowers and pretty bunnies hopping around, would they! 🙄

Easter is about the Crucifixion (ie nailed to a cross to die) and Resurrection of Jesus. Or are you going to teach her about Christmas being just about Santa and Reindeer too?

I don't believe it either btw despite being brought up in a strongly religious family but I know what it's about.

Well maybe the real lesson here is to educate the daughter on both the pagan and Christian aspects of Easter?

The Christian story needs to be told- the whole point is christs “suffering”…how the heck does someone die by being “put” on a cross…children need to know that crucifixion was a form of torture. Doesn’t need graphic details- but at least some concept of pain and suffering involved. That’s life- the pint is we all have pain and suffering in our lives - it’s sort of the whole point of Christianity🤷🏼‍♀️🤦‍♀️. Even as aetheist it’s kind of important to know that about chrsitianity
the whole eggs and bunny bit is fine, as is chocolate, but agian explain why. Explain how Christian’s band Waggoner on pagan rights of spring …the who,eg egg and rabbit bit gets a shed load darker in terms of paganism when you start to dig away anyway.
It’s important kids are introduced to both aspects as early as possible. And to understand what crucifixion is- it’s not being told to stand on a cross like a naughty corner 🤦‍♀️

it’s like parents who eat meat not telling their kids where meat comes from. Just stop it. Tell the truth in an age appropriate way- it doesn’t need to be gory or upsetting. Matter of fact.

Honestly this. Come on now.

No, it's not a good idea to shield them.
Whether it's a bloke nailed to a cross or the six o clock news

Just why and how do you tell children stupid stories about rabbits and eggs.
Chicks and eggs yes but mammals!

I would think the vast majority of kids would know he was nailed to a cross by the time they get to school. Your child’s reaction is indicative that they have been raised in a way that they have been oversheltered for their age. This does them no favours, nor anyone else that has to tread on eggshells around a precious petal kid. I’m not aware of anyone, myself included, who was affected by knowing this by this age. It is what it is. What next, replacing the crown of thorns with a chain of daffodils to try and make it a fun story?

I know. I know. Thank you for that.