I'm not a parent so I don't have any real experience but I would think it wiser to maybe try and find out if this is going to be a Religious experience by talking to a teacher or who ever you can and not send the little one if you're worried you'll have to pull her out any moment. I wonder if pulling her out once she's there would raise the questions of "why" rather then just introducing her to what ever sort of belief system you might be more comfortable with later. That's just my view though

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

Who gives a fuck? really? If you don't want your kid to be raised christian it's easy enough to tell the teachers, "Hey, she doesn't need to stand up during this," or whatever.

It's not gonna hurt her to be in the room while people offer a corny prayer. This just sounds like you're being a dick for the sake of being a dick.

The problem is that to some, it can come off as feeling as if the staff's religious beliefs are being "forced" upon children. For us adults, it's not a big deal. Our minds are pretty much made up on what we choose to believe or not believe. But some children's minds are a little more impressionable, and are easily influenced, and that's when we delve into the dangerous arena of "brain-washing" children to follow a particular faith. It goes from becoming their choice to something they just feel like they have to follow along with, because that's what the grown-ups they're supposed to be obeying are doing.

A lot of parents who don't want their children to feel pressured into making a religious choice before they're ready prefer to keep them from being overtly exposes to religious activity until they're more emotionally and intellectually capable of making their own choice based on what THEY think/feel, not what OTHERS think/feel.

It's not about going "RELIGION IS BAD, EWWWWW" (even tho -I-, personally, do believe that, but this journal isn't ABOUT me). People can practice and celebrate whatever faith they feel is good for them. But I think it's also a parent's right to choose what their child is and isn't exposed to, and i definitely agree with the parents who feel religion should be just as censored and monitored until a certain level of maturity as we do with violent or adult content. NOT on the basis that it's "bad" or "dirty", but solely because it's not something an immature mind is prepared to deal with and formulate an opinion on.

Just my own personal point of view on this, you're more than welcome to love it or leave it. =P

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

I disagree, on the grounds that if you've raised your children to any respectable degree, your influence should be stronger than their teachers'. Unless they're "special" of course. If you(not you personally, just hypothetical person, btw) are seriously worried that your children would take Teacher Susie's opinions over yours, you need to think more about how YOU are doing as a parent than how Teacher Susie is brainwashing your children.

And I'm sorry, but in my town if a child brings a Bible to school he gets detention/suspension. If he prays over his lunch, he gets detention/suspension, at a football game, the STUDENTS of BOTH TEAMS got together, stopped the game, and prayed for THEIR OWN safety, independent of their coaches or school leaders, and the majority of those teams members were suspended.

Forgive me if I don't feel sorry for the Athiests', Agnostics', Pagans', and etc.'s rights, when Christians' rights to speak freely are infringed as well.

While I don't entirely disagree with you, I don't entirely agree with you either. I think the most peaceful resolution would be just to agree to disagree and call it a day.

I'm actually fine with that.

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

STAND, in and of itself, not a problem. I don't believe what you believe, I may think you're CRAZY to think as you do (not YOU, Shujin, a generic "you")... but if it costs me nothing to make you happy (i do not consider "standing" a cost), I'm agreeable.

Now, reciting anything? mmmmm...nope. Not even an "Amen" at the end.

Now, I personally don't believe in God. But I also obviously don't take the issue as seriously as you do. I was raised attending several churches, as we moved... and I credit that for much of my young skepticism... "but they ALL say, 'trust me, I'm right, he's wrong'... this makes no sense".

I have the occasional doubt. Hell, maybe someone did kick over a cosmic ashcan and start all this universe shit. I severely doubt it, don't see the point, and I emphatically do NOT believe in any great benevolence or savior, or even an afterlife... no reason why such a thing should exist. Even if there is some prime mover, I can't see any kind of worship being appropriate.

Question - WHY is a secular public (public?) school going to a "bible conference and retreat center"? that DOES sound like a problem that needs to be addressed.

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

I'd say not worry about it. It's just one event, after all.
If it were my child I'd let educate her about both side of the coin and not condemn one side or the other.

Remember, it's not a shameful thing to believe in God. If she wants to go to church or be involved with a grace, let her. If she doesn't, she doesn't have to.

How about this: ask her what she wants to do. Based on what you've told me about young Tribble, she strikes me as a pretty sharp and open-minded kid who may be able to make some choices for herself.

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

I know exactly what 'addams family thanks' is.
It would be done when I went to camp when I was younger.
I find it a bit ill in taste that a school affiliated trip is requiring their students to have to do this.
I believe it should be an optional thing and not be manditory.
But I agree, I think you should speak to her teacher or even the staff before this event.
Defnly express your concern to them about this requirement.
They may even change it so that it isn't really apart of the rules if you can get them to understand it correctly without them taking offense t
All I can truely do is wish you luck. :3

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

Being Pagan I run into many of the same issues as you do. I also understand mostly where you are coming from, because when I was with my ex and helping her raise her two kids we had to deal with many of the same issues.

I'm honestly not sure what to tell you.

I know what my gut feelings are, but you may not like them. We all have to walk our own path and walk the one we find right for ourselves. How do you wish to walk your talk? When it comes to tolerance and understanding it's a two way street. The problem come many people think it only goes one way... their way or no way.

HUGGGGGZ

femm

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

I don't have children per se but I come from a family of multiple religions and I would say express your concerns but keep an open mind as long as their beliefs are not crammed down others' throats..... I have had my battles with bible thumpers to the point where I am not welcome in several churches just because I make people question their beliefs with legitimate questions..... If they require that they must pray at mealtime ask if your child can choose to maintain silence out of respect to their custom and if they say all must participate then you have your answer before she even goes or if they require them to attend services or anything like that then I would pull her out and prepare to press charges on them.....

Followup.... http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4643475/

Okay. I don't get the Addam's Family connection. To me, the Addams Family is Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday and Bugsily. What they have to do with this, I don't know.

I will, however, say this... When I was in college, I was invited to attend a "school getaway". I'm not the world's most social animal and I thought it would do me good. It wasn't until I got there that I discovered it was a religious retreat. They spent the next two days trying to hammer Christianity into me. The result is I HATE organized religion. When I die, I will insist on being buried in unhallowed ground.

At least this group is up front about it, but I would not count on their secular promise. Not one damn. IF your daughter is okay with this, fine. If she thinks she's going to "camp" and eat marshmellows and sing around a fire, find another venue. TRUST ME.

The Addam's Family connection is insidious... IF I'm right.

The ORIGINAL show (Not the movies or the cartoon series... yes, there's been more than one carton) was, and continues to be, VERY popular and funny. Hell, my daughter loves it! So if you go with that, its, please excuse the pun, child's play to have someone latch onto a musical mnemonic and replace the original words with a parody... or, in this case, a theistic message. IF I'M RIGHT, that's disgusting to me.

Right now, I'm HIGHLY dubious.... and doing what any good parent should - ask questions and ensure my daughter's well being.

Good luck, dude

Believe me... I'm going to need it. Thank you.