shoe box appeal - whatdo I put in it.

[twinsetandpearls]

Can't find the leaflet for dd shoebox appeal at school, I need to do it today, whatdo I put in it?

I think it is bribery, plain and simple. Religious message can be expressed in a variety of non-evangelitical ways. Besides, I do not think that it is appropriate for a secular school (such as the one DS had attended) to support groups of this nature.

nannyme - I just read your post and agree wholeheartedly! They are obtaining goods under false pretences. We are athiests and were shocked to discover (after trawling the internet) that DS was being duped into providing for this organisation under questionable methods.

So, Christians should stay out of Muslim countries then? Hmmm, does that mean we should ban all the mosques, temples, etc. from Christian countries?

I wouldn't think that would be a wise move for the UK (which is in fact a Christian country).

I suppose if you send your children to a non-religeous school, then this is perhaps fair that you don't want to participate. But, don't all schools in the UK support Christianity as a result of it being the country's religeon? Perhaps I've assumed this, but I always thought that having a state religeon meant it was supported in the state school system? I would expect that countries of other religeons do the same.

"Agreed its 'peaceful' but spreading Christianity in Muslim communities?"
Where is an okay place to spread a Christian message then?
I do agree that if 'normal' schools want to do shoeboxes they should look harder for a non-religious one. It's only because Samaritan's Purse is so organised and make it easy for givers but there are plenty of alternatives out there. They could even do their own - how about year round collections for kids in local Womens' Aid shelters?

I'd sort of love for the whole operation to be brought down by spreading awareness of their tactics but what then?

The shoeboxes are such such a wonderful thing. I must admit I haven't spent all that long looking into alternatives as it seems SP have a bit of a monopoly on it.

Instead we just didn't join in when our children were at school in the UK. That peed me off too because then my children had to be the odd ones out just so we could do what we felt was the right thing.

Schools never question this stuff - in fact schools should probably become charities (okay maybe they virtually are thanks to lack of funding) as they'd be fantastic. Already they seem expert at extracting money without questioning their morals or methods.

Exactly BoD, so what's the point of zealously spreading the message at all? Every community/family/individual chooses its/his own way and the information only needs to be available.

SP aren't just making it available - they are mixing messages, imo.

All religions have an aspect of spreading the word built in - was it all supposed to just stop when the world wide web came along? How are poor families in Muslim communities supposed to access information on Christianity? Why not combine 'making it available' with some practical charity too?
Yes Franklin Graham certainly seems a bit of a psycho but Ive got nothing against the idea in principle.

Well I agree entirely with what you say there, despite my atheism - that doesn't get in the way of me being able to appreciate what you say - but it's the 'psycho' but that's the problem!

Yeah I'm also an atheist but I do feel sorry for 'normal' Christians who get lumped in with people like him .

My letter has been written and printed out to be given to the Headmaster and the Chair of the Governors at DD's school. Hopefully they will choose to go with 21st Century Child, or another of the non-denominational organisations. The idea of the shoeboxes is a wonderful one, but the hidden agenda behind Samaritan's Purse is very unsavoury. Especially given that my DD attends a non-denominational school with a large number of Muslim pupils.

Blimey - this has turned into an anti-chritsian rant already !

Soem aetheists are soooo intolerant!

My children go to a Catholic school and make up CAFOD boxes and I support that. Or rather I would do if I hadn't forgotten to do it this year..

Fox - It is NOT an anti-Christianity thread, it is an anti-Samaritan's Purse thread. Samaritan's Purse is a RACIST organisation that has been widely condemned by Christian Leaders in the UK for their particular brand of 'spreading the word'.

Racist? What have I missed? Do you have a link?

The charming Mr Graham has views on Islam and Hinduism, ??we traveled to the subcontinent of India, with its hundreds of millions of people locked in the darkness of Hinduism? These people were bound by Satan?s power.?
They are a fundamentalist religious organisation, targeting the most vulnerable people with divisive literature and material goods. It sucks frankly.

There are other shoebox appeals which are entirely non-religious. OCC are not the only option

That isn't a racist quote. Religeonist, perhaps. But, it's no worse than things I've heard quoted from leaders of other religeons. All religeons preech that their own religeon is the only true light.

Not that I'm a fundamentalist Christian, but I do think Christianity is judged today by much stricter rules than any other. And I find that to be anti-Christian. no one would dare raise this issue is it was a box supported by any other religeon.

I doubt that highly.

I didn't think racism had anything to do with religion either . What he says is no worse than anything any vicar or imam might be forced to say if interviewed by a rather childish journalist. What he does is a different matter.

If you want to give to a Christian NGO that helps children in the developing world but with no strings attached, then I hear that Christian Aid does this.
I have also heard that Samaritan's Purse does have strings attached. Our school no longer sends out shoeboxes to this charity after the teachers heard of it's motives.
Many of the charities have appeals and fundraising activities that will engage children - why not raise money for some items (e.g. goats or a teacher) from the Oxfam Unwrapped xmas catalogue if you want to help but don't want to involve religion?

Can't belive this thread has kickedoff in my absence,
we did a box included a girly soap set, hair bobbles, fancy pens and a purse.

I will check out the accusations of subjecting people to a religious tirade.