AIBU to take my kids to church even though I’m atheist

[Iheartguacamole]

My kids are both preschool. On a Wednesday I take them to a church toddler group - everyone seems very welcoming and friendly. Dp is working today and I’m struggling to find low cost things to do with them. Looked at my local church and they do a family friendly service on a Sunday. AIBU to take the kids there just to get out of the house and go somewhere? I don’t believe in god but I have no problem with my kids being exposed to Christianity. I’m just wondering if it’s a bit…off considering I’m not a believer?

As a church goers myself there are several reasons why people come to church. Lots of people come for a community and that is all good. I hope you find something you like:)

Thats a bit of a shitty thing to do. The people running Sunday school don't get paid. That's so disrespectful.

Well I took them! My 4 year old daughter joined the other kids at the front to dance along to one of the songs - was so cute I nearly exploded
They were really nice and welcoming. I did sit through the sermon whilst the kids went in a different room for colouring in bible stories. The religion part is really not for me and I felt a bit weird when they started doing communion, but I enjoyed the music. The band was really good and the singer had a truly lovely voice. Kids had a good morning and they helped themselves to biscuits. Glad I went. Thanks all!

Why shitty?

If you read all my posts my DDs had been church goers before being placed with me. I didn't lie about anything (I was never asked anything about my beliefs). The volunteers and other parents were welcoming and supportive.

I ended up volunteering as a helper once I had the mental energy. One DD is a committed Christian and involved in.our local church (including volunteering at their weekly play group) the other is agnostic.

But even without that outcome, the attitude i have experienced at church is that they are happy to help. That they value community, and people just lending a hand when and where they can.

It's the non church goers who are judgemental, accuse people of hypocrisy and 'shitty' behaviour. Not the people actually offering support, running Sunday School etc.

In fact, while I was a helper we had a situation where 3 children started coming along without a parent. Usually rather scruffy, badly behaved and they descended on the popcorn/ biscuits we provided. It turned out their mother had substance abuse issues. No one was anything other than glad they came along. The mum was always welcomed on the few occasions she turned up, and the vicar helped get various referrals in place to get the family some support.

I.might get in touch with the 2 or 3 Sunday School people i am still in touch with, nearly a decade on, and ask whether they think I was being shitty.

I suspect they will be confused by the question. They run a Sunday School because that's their calling, and the more children and families involved the better. They leave the results, or the benefits to any specific family or parent, to God.

I don't think your attitude would make much sense to them.

That sounds lovely! I wonder if you don't want to sit through the sermon you could offer to help out with the colouring in? Sometimes I just use it as a chance to sit down, doing nothing for a bit. You could close your eyes and have a micro nap and people will think you're praying!

I don't see why not. Churches welcome anyone, the more through the door the better.

Obviously if you were devoutly practicing a different religion it might feel wrong or awkward to you. But even then I don't think they'd turn you away?

What?
I said it was nice as it sounded like a nice break for you once a week and it sounded like you needed one.

I think it shows an admirable openness of mind!

My kids attend a CofE school. I'm agnostic and my children are a bit young for actual religious beliefs. I never had to attend a church to get them in haha.

I mean non Christians go to church schools so I suppose kinda same thing.
I attended a church school for primary.
It didn't affect my personal beliefs in any way.

I’m a Hitchens/Dawkins/Gervais level atheist but still took the DC to church playgroups and married in a church. It’s the community buildings we have left because of our history. And our ancestors paid their tithe every week to build these churches. They belong to all of us.

I don't think that's how Christianity works - churches want non-believers to attend! A true Christian church would welcome you.

I've known vicars who don't believe in God themselves. It's just a job that comes with a house and a car

It's no more appropriate than me deciding to have a picnic by the indoor swimming pool at the local leisure centre.

It's a very London centric thing I think. My kids started out in Catholic school in London and, despite them being baptised anyway there was a requirement that they went to church. They don't really care why people were going to church. They would rinse us for money regularly as they knew people would pay up to get into the school, Catholic or not. When we moved out of London their school just needed you to be baptised for priority admission, and the church just puts round the collection plate as usual. No handing out standing orders!

Yeah, I don't think that happens elsewhere except perhaps in very high demand schools.

I do not see a problem with it, i suppose for peace and ease of mind you could seek conversations with the pastor after service.

I'm an atheist and I did take my DC to church occasionally (Harvest festival, Christingel etc). I like the songs, the architecture and the sound of the organ. My DC are rational beings and weren't harmed by the experience.