Has anyone ever gone to Spring Harvest?

[minitigs]

An Evangelical festival held at Butlins’ across the country.

Through my husband, it’s something I’ve heard a lot about over the years. He grew up in a Christian household (his mum in particular) and went to Spring Harvest many times as a child and young adult.

Now; despite being christened, going to a C of E primary, and attending Sunday school as a child. My parents are not religious. My dad in particular is very anti religion, and has made some horrible comments about my husband and his family over the years (thankfully I have minimal contact with him). Over the years, I’ve been conflicted with my belief, but always thought myself a Christian.
But, when I met my MIL, she told my husband I wasn’t a Christian. Wouldn’t let me sleep over at their house, and didn’t want us to move in together before marriage. I’ve struggled over the years with their more evangelical beliefs, whereas mine are a bit more your Protestant/CofE/traditional. Whenever I’ve gone to services of any kind at their Baptist church, I haven’t enjoyed them.

This year, we have been invited along to Spring Harvest… I would love to hear if anyone has any experience of going. The good, the bad; anything!
I’m really unsure about what I’m going to get from it. Other than it probably cementing my own beliefs.

Really interested to hear others experiences

I've already confirmed your interpretation is not what I said. At all. Clearly your perception and what you have read into the words, means we do not agree. It's okay that we do not agree. It is not something I feel the need to explain further to you. You are entitled to your own thoughts on the matter - and that is okay too.

I went several times as a teenager.
I am a Christian but I describe myself now as "post-evangelical" and wouldn't go to Spring Harvest if you paid ne and especially would do anything in my power to keep any impressionable child, teen or young adult away.

I guess it might have changed in the intervening years but the Spring Harvest I knew could be very damaging - it pushed a very culty black&white version of Christianity. It used emotive psychological techniques to generate a group hysteria which was then described as "the power of the holy spirit". I was subjected to a rather disturbing "exorcism" which would certainly be considered psychological abuse if observed by anyone with any understanding of safeguarding.

I go to Greenbelt these days and I love it there but that's a Christian event where doubters and athiests are just as accepted and included (without any attempts to evangelise or exorcise!) so perhaps that would be a better event to go to?

Really? So if you're not chastising her for ending the appointment with a rude and unpleasant patient and being abruptly rather than reassuring then what were you doing?

I don't intend going again for various reasons, but Greenbelt is a very safe, open and varied event where you can dip in and out of as much or as little God stuff as you want, and there's something for everyone. I carried on going long after I'd stopped being an evangelical, and eventually any sort of Christian at all.

I agree with others, Spring Harvest is horrible and I'd rather poke my own eyes out that go to something like that again.

Spring Harvest is the highlight of my year. I love it.

Me too! At the invitation of my boyfriend's family. I was with his parents and sister and he shared with a boys group.

I've never gone again. I grew up in a Baptist church and while there were many good things available for me there as a child, as a teenager I became critical of the in/out belief system, the constraint, the double standards etc.

Cut to today and I (like to) think I'm much more open. For me, it's how religion and belief are used (and in what context) that matters - at least when I think about other people.

For me personally, spirituality is about my contact with myself, my experience, my desires and my capacity to connect with others (not just human). Being able to think critically is a useful tool in support of those things.

In going to Spring Harvest I wasn't being honest with myself. I wanted the relationship with my boyfriend but didn't want to admit I found it all a bit in group and stupid.

Hello! I see a lot of negative responses, some assuming stuff about your marriage, some of the messages are very sneaky as well but also a lot of support. Just take time to think, I agree that your MIL and the family that side are perhaps a little too pushy - in my experience, this is not the right way. I've been to Spring Harvest once, it wasn't bad, there were lots of different types of talks, at times different religions came in to it as well so you could understand everything better. Just be prepared for a week of learning stuff, but I DEFINITELY would have an open conversation with your husband and if you're feeling brave, your MIL lol. They must give you space, "converting" is a huge decision, I also hate that word, makes you seem like a number. If anyone ever treats you that way, distance yourself, you need space! I hope what ever you do, you love your life and your family 😍