Daughter 11 wants to go on a Christian camp

meritaten

I do NOT describe myself as Christian - I have respect for the Christian belief - but it isn't the way I think of Spirituality.
I read with horror the description of the 'camp' and I don't think your DD should go either! That sounds like a cult! its so far off what I think Christianity is, that I wonder if this branch of the 'church' is actually legitimate?
I have known more than a few 'happy clappy Christians' and they usually do not preach, and respect your own beliefs. This bunch sound fundamental Christians to me - more associated with redneck America!
I would indeed arrange a treat for your DD - but hun, by not letting her go you are doing the biggest favour of her life apart from giving birth to her!

edit to say - I was brought up Presbyterian and they definitely were not 'happy clappy'! but respect for others was preached. They did do weekend 'camps' and tho I never went friends did and said they were fun! just grace before meals and a bit of a lecture before the evening fun! no long sermons or 'love bombing'!

**curlywurly**

Yes, but Skintchick, are you saying those are atheist messages?

Soubrette

skintchick wrote: »

Just quoting myself as some of you seem to have missed this bit.

But you ascribed those comments to an atheist society when actually it is nothing to do with atheism and everything to do with consumerism. Atheism does not equal consumerism, they are not synonyms and in fact consumerism has absolutely nothing to do with your religious (or lack of) orientation.

claire16c

stsarina wrote: »

I'm a Christian (C of E), I went to Soul Survivor when I was 16 - and I absolutely think you're doing the right thing by not letting your daughter go. I wouldn't let my DD go when she reached the age I was when I went, let alone only 11 years old. It was an incredibly intense experience, and though I loved the social aspect and seeing the Christian bands, the seminars were very full-on. There was one in particular about 'healing', which I found to be both upsetting and intimidating to see people claiming the spirit had entered and healed them while we watched, and the leader was (in my opinion) very aggressive in 'encouraging' us to open up and let the spirit enter us.

There's certainly a time and place for learning about religion in a balanced way, and if your daughter believes in her faith then by all means encourage it, but not like this. Stand firm on this one, OP.

Oh my goodness they sound like nutters. I don't understand how grown adults can act that way. What if you had said 'er nothing is happening??'

It scares me to think my old friend saw that & probably believed it. Also I have another friend who went to it & is into that type of religion but she didn't turn as odd as the other one but just makes me wonder what on earth she does at church and these type of things.

Brighton_belle

meritaten wrote: »

I do NOT describe myself as Christian - I have respect for the Christian belief - but it isn't the way I think of Spirituality.
I read with horror the description of the 'camp' and I don't think your DD should go either! That sounds like a cult! its so far off what I think Christianity is, that I wonder if this branch of the 'church' is actually legitimate?
I have known more than a few 'happy clappy Christians' and they usually do not preach, and respect your own beliefs. This bunch sound fundamental Christians to me - more associated with redneck America!

It's not a cult; it's a gathering of christians from all sorts of main stream churches - baptists, low church c of E's etc as well as the more modern 'house church movement' to holiday together and study the bible and worship.

All happy clappy's are fundamentalist though.
The fact it sounds far off what you think christianity is is a bit irrelevant though isn't it - as a non christian?

meritaten

Brighton_belle wrote: »

It's not a cult; it's a gathering of christians from all sorts of main stream churches - baptists, low church c of E's etc as well as the more modern 'house church movement to holiday together and study the bible and worship.

All happy clappy's are fundamentalist though.
The fact it sounds far off what you think christianity is is a bit irrelevant though isn't it - as a non christian?

by definition all religions are fundamentalist then aren't they?
but some actively seek to convert and others are happy to let people find their own way to them.

if, as the OP states that up to six hours of the day is spent in 'lectures' studies and exclusively on Religion - then yes - to my mind its an attempt at brainwashing and is 'cultist'.
If you see nothing wrong in it - that is up to you! I find it abhorrent! especially when children are involved.

Lavendyr

To bring another perspective, I am a Christian (for about 8 years now) and I am really quite strongly anti Soul Survivor I'm afraid. Having been brought up atheist I have always been quite against evangelism and I still think it alienates more people than it draws. For that reason alone Soul Survivor makes me very uncomfortable, but I know many in my church social circle who feel likewise uncomfortable through their experiences with them. Soul Survivor-type activity does not represent the vast majority of Christians out there - it is a small part of the many shades of Christian practice.

If DH and I had kids (which I don't yet), I don't think we would send them on a Soul Survivor camp, though we would encourage them to try out different churches - and different beliefs. There is a line between allowing children to experience new things and pushing them into particular beliefs and in my view Soul Survivor take it too far to the latter than the former.

Treevo

Gotta love a member of the Christian Church - one of the wealthiest organizations in the world - claiming that consumerism is atheist in nature.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I guess that's what they mean when they say 'blind faith'.

lolavix

I'm completely against the grain here as I am completely anti-religion. I'll probably get shot down in flames for this post now!

Religion seems to be the root of most conflict in the world and the extremes some people go to is just unbelievable for someone/thing that obviously doesn't exist. If there was any god in this world it wouldn't be such a bad one, would it?

I have nothing against anyone who is religious as long as I don't get it shoved in my face. I do however, thinks that children shouldn't be made to go to church etc at very young ages as this is itself is brainwashing, children should be allowed to make their own decisions as they get older. I also think there's too much teaching of religion in all schools. I remember RE lessons and I found them tedious and unnecessary. I got so many detentions for skipping that class!

Looking at the website for Sould Survivor I'm in shock that people actually believe in this stuff and would ever want to send a child there. They seem like complete and utter loonies!

OP, you are doing the completely right thing in not letting your daughter go, if she does want to practice a religion maybe find her a less nutty camp?

This post is all my opinion so please don't slate me just because I believe religion is a load of tosh!

System

My kids went on christian summer breaks with the church and loved it. It certainly didnt turn them into mini christians.