Oklahoma Nesties
Dannyand Allison
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God question
If you don't believe in God, do you send your children to Vacation Bible School or Church Camp? Why or why not?
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Re: God question
I know quite a few people that do this. There are some that believe in God but don't attend church and don't follow a formal religious setting per se, they do it due to varying reasons.
I think the resounding view is that many want their children to grow up with a strong moral sense of right/wrong and a respect for higher authority and power.
Even though I am not religious, it doesn't mean that my children will have no religious belief. It will be up to them, just as it was with my parents (very laid-back Methodists). They allowed me to go to VBS with a friend one summer, and it wasn't my thing (Baptist). I also went to that church for a spell in high school, and after awhile, discovered that again, it wasn't for me. They allowed me to make my own decisions and mistakes regarding religion and it all worked out.
However, I would be wary of some churches. I don't like the message some churches spread so I might have to put my foot down if the kiddo wanted to go to certain places.
As I know most of you know, my husband and I are both atheists. I would not feel comfortable sending my son to vacation bible school or church camp because I wouldn't want him being taught that any religion is the truth. We teach our children that there are many different religions and what the quick versions are of their belief systems so that they can do their own searching and choose what they believe when they are old enough. I would be fine with him going to church occasionally with a friend or my ILs when he is a little older, having been taught by us about the multitude of belief systems beforehand. Like fuzzy, though, there are certain denominations that I might be uncomfortable with (for instance, I would never allow him to go anywhere where I thought they might tell him his parents would go to hell because they didn't believe.)
My daughter knows that we do not believe in god, but she has been raised going to church with her dad's family and considers herself to be a Christian. I would be fine with her going to a vacation bible school or church camp. DH and I have discussed trying to find her a good age appropriate Bible because if she is to feel that she believes in something, I want to make sure she is fully informed about it.
Sort of in response to prettygirl's comment about parents sending their kids to church functions to be taught morals (which I didn't think to quote), I absolutely do not believe that children need to be exposed to religion or to any kind of a church setting to be taught morals or ethics.
I agree with this, as well. We never really talked about religion or God in my family, but we certainly knew right from wrong.
No, it's not my belief that religion only teaches children morality or ethics. My point is that some people that send their kids to VBS or Christian school do so in order to instill that in them. This may be to the parents wanting to expose their children to religion so that they can understand it or what have you. I have a friend that is not religious at all that has stated she sends her children to VBS so they can be exposed to types of religion and have an appreciation for it while also learning about "how to treat people."
Of course you can be non-religious and be the ultimate example on what a good/kind person is. My father is not religious and rejects all forms, he has taught me more than I can express. I was giving reasons why parents MAY send their children to Christian schools even if they are not religious or don't believe in God.
If I had kids, I'd want them to hang out with yours! Nice response, and I totally agree.
Seriously. Beautifully said.
I didn't mean to imply that it was your belief that religion is needed to teach morals. I was just addressing the idea that non-religious people might feel that they need to send their kids to church for that reason. It just frustrates me that there are people (and a lot of them, if you read surveys about how people view atheists) who think that religion or a belief in a higher power is a prerequisite for morality.
I believe in some sort of God, but I'm not Christian, so I wouldn't send my children to VBS. I mean, if they wanted to go with a friend or something, fine. It's not like I think it would hurt them to attend in any way provided it was a pretty mainline church, but we'd have to have a talk beforehand (which, presumably we would have had before) about respecting that everyone has different beliefs. I'm not sure if Jews or Muslims have similar age-appropriate programs, but if they want to go to those, too, fine.
I actually did attend VBS for a couple of years as a kid. No one made us handle snakes or told us to hate gays or anything (a'la Jesus Camp). We just made stuff out egg cartons and pipe cleaners and colored pictures of Noah's Arc.
If we did have a child who, for whatever reason, wanted to join a religion, I wouldn't mind attending Unitarian services with him/her. I think I'd definitely fit in there (esp. since the one in Edmond has the co-op deliver food there!)
I don't have kids, but if I did, I would leave it up to them what they want to believe. I'm not Christian (I'm not atheist either) and I wouldn't ever purposely send them off to church or VBS or church camp, etc. unless they made the choice to go in the first place.
Also, as a pp said, I don't think I'd let them go to certain churches, ones that like to use scare tactics to get people to believe.
First of all, I would teach my children what I believe and why. Then discuss with them things they learn from school, friends, media, etc. So my short answer is yes, and my long answer is:
As far as VBS goes, this is for younger children, and I don't really think they learn much other than "Jesus loves me". Certainly not worthy of worrying about any brain washing (if it is a church in which you do not follow).
Church camp is a little more intense. But, I think when a child gets to the age where they could attend, they would be prepared to sort through whatever they learn. I think being exposed to different beliefs is very important to children becomming well rounded.
I am a Christian, but just wanted to say how awesome I think your response is. It seems like (not just from this post, but others of similar nature) you are raising your children in such an unselfish and open way. I don't have kids, yet, and I will be raising mine in a church, since that is what I believe in, but I hope I am as open and unselfish with my kids as you are. It seems like you just honestly want your kids to be as knowledgable as possible before making decisions and I really respect that. (sorry for the rainbow/puppy nature of all that!
)
Aw, thanks!