The Message of God

[Non sequitur]

A 9 year-old girl was approached by a couple from the a christian center who gave her candy and a Bible verse. She was also promised more candy if she memorized the verse.

Isn't this pushing things a little too far, in regards to "spreading the word"?

Would those who approve of it be equally supportive of my rights to give her candy and literature of my choosing, that supports my beliefs?

 

[eachallberg]

No,
Maybe that verse will be a like shield one day and she will be grateful.

We should be simple and keep are words, yes, or, no and not promise anything.

As for..."Would those who approve of it be equally supportive of my rights to give her candy and literature of my choosing, that supports my beliefs?"

It is up to the child's parents to place them in the environment they choose.
So, let the parents decide what their child can have, and cant have.

The child will have a say too, but they will be swayed by their parents.

Peace.

 

[Non sequitur]

No,
Maybe that verse will be a like shield one day and she will be grateful.

We should be simple and keep are words, yes, or, no and not promise anything.

And maybe what I gave her would be a shield one day.

I don't see how the "maybe" makes anything ok.

As for..."Would those who approve of it be equally supportive of my rights to give her candy and literature of my choosing, that supports my beliefs?"

It is up to the child's parents to place them in the environment they choose.
So, let the parents decide what their child can have, and cant have.

The child will have a say too, but they will be swayed by their parents.

Peace.

If the environment is supposed to be neutral, then they should expect anything.

The people who approached her imposed themselves on her, so the child was given this before the parents had any say.

The point was: Is it then ok, across the board, for a person with any set of beliefs to hand out their material, along with candy to children, prior to the consent of a parent?

 

[solarwave]

I tend to have an uneasy feeling about trying to convert children. Teenagers have at least some sort of ability to think rationally about what they are told where as children much younger than 13 don't have that great a defence. It would seem to be more legitimate and meaningful to go for mid-teens and above.

On the other hand I don't mind churches running events for non-Christian children with a Christian edge to it.

 

[Non sequitur]

On the other hand I don't mind churches running events for non-Christian children with a Christian edge to it.

As long as they make it apparent to the parents that it would have some religious edge to it, I'm game.

 

[maizer]

I think it depends on the situation a bit.

If the Christians were just approaching the child on the street without consulting the parents, yes that is wrong, and can lead to bad habits.

If on the other hand, it was Sunday school or some Christian event, why not? However, giving candy should just be a minor tool rather than the main method of teaching. Pretty much all the Bible verses I see taught to kids have to do with being good friends, honesty, love, forgiveness, etc etc.

In the ends, I think the candy may or may not make the kid interested in something, but even if they do, they will decide in the future whether or not to believe in it. Taking into many other factors in their decision, the least of which is candy.

 

[Non sequitur]

I think it depends on the situation a bit.

If the Christians were just approaching the child on the street without consulting the parents, yes that is wrong, and can lead to bad habits.

If on the other hand, it was Sunday school or some Christian event, why not? However, giving candy should just be a minor tool rather than the main method of teaching. Pretty much all the Bible verses I see taught to kids have to do with being good friends, honesty, love, forgiveness, etc etc.

In the ends, I think the candy may or may not make the kid interested in something, but even if they do, they will decide in the future whether or not to believe in it. Taking into many other factors in their decision, the least of which is candy.

It was not a Sunday school or some Christian event.

I appreciate your input.

 

[eachallberg]

The people who approached her imposed themselves on her, so the child was given this before the parents had any say.

The point was: Is it then ok, across the board, for a person with any set of beliefs to hand out their material, along with candy to children, prior to the consent of a parent?

Maizer said it best.

Children 7 and under, the parents should be present.

Handing out material on the Christian faith is ok, and if it comes with a safe amount of candy so what?
No harm done.

7 and up,
the parents should have instilled values and discretion into the child by then.

Peace.

 

[secondtimearound]

A 9 year-old girl was approached by a couple from the a christian center who gave her candy and a Bible verse. She was also promised more candy if she memorized the verse.

Isn't this pushing things a little too far, in regards to "spreading the word"?

Would those who approve of it be equally supportive of my rights to give her candy and literature of my choosing, that supports my beliefs?

What do you mean by approached? As in this girl's parents didn't bring them to the center, these people just walked up to them? If that is the case then I do not approve of anyone teaching that God's word is a reward in this world in the sense of a financial pleasure. But if thier parents were aware and aproved of it, I still have a problem with the prosperity side of it, but the parents have a freedom to raise thier child as they see fit(so long as the child is not in danger).

 

[Non sequitur]

Maizer said it best.

Children 7 and under, the parents should be present.

Handing out material on the Christian faith is ok, and if it comes with a safe amount of candy so what?
No harm done.

7 and up,
the parents should have instilled values and discretion into the child by then.

Peace.

So you'd be ok with me handing out atheist material (she was 9) to children with a "safe amount of candy", along with the promise that I will give them more if they learn one of Dawkins statements?

 

[s_s]

So you'd be ok with me handing out atheist material (she was 9) to children with a "safe amount of candy", along with the promise that I will give them more if they learn one of Dawkins statements?

Knock yourself out. Children aren't stupid, they will decide for themselves what they want to believe.

 

[Non sequitur]

Knock yourself out. Children aren't stupid, they will decide for themselves what they want to believe.

Seriously?

Children aren't stupid? They don't have jacked up ideas, they believe to be true? It's ok to give a minor ideas about gods, no gods or Muslim extremist ideas?

Let their advanced and life-experienced brains figure that out?

 

[ExOrienteLux]

In reply to the OP: no, it's not alright for people (of any religious/philosophical persuasion) to just walk up to people (especially minors) and start handing out tracts. In my mind, the best way to persuade someone of the truth of your position is to live in a way that makes plan what you believe.

Especially in this instance, those people had no right to do what they did. To all those who have said that it's fine, I call shenanigans. Would you want someone doing that to your kid?

 

[Non sequitur]

In reply to the OP: no, it's not alright for people (of any religious/philosophical persuasion) to just walk up to people (especially minors) and start handing out tracts. In my mind, the best way to persuade someone of the truth of your position is to live in a way that makes plan what you believe.

Especially in this instance, those people had no right to do what they did. To all those who have said that it's fine, I call shenanigans. Would you want someone doing that to your kid?

I agree, especially on the shenanigans part.

 

[eachallberg]

So you'd be ok with me handing out atheist material (she was 9) to children with a "safe amount of candy", along with the promise that I will give them more if they learn one of Dawkins statements?

No.
Pay attention to the post you quoted your answer is there.

It is written: "Test the spirits and see if they are from the Lord."
&
"We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."

What is certain is that Love will last forever. Helping the poor, sick, imprisoned, orphans, widows, hungry, thirsty, tired, ect...

Anything else done is a meaningless chasing of phantoms.

Knock yourself out. Children aren't stupid, they will decide for themselves what they want to believe.

Amen.

Peace.

 

[Non sequitur]

No.
Pay attention to the post you quoted your answer is there.

It is written: "Test the spirits and see if they are from the Lord."
&
"We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."

What is certain is that Love will last forever. Helping the poor, sick, imprisoned, orphans, widows, hungry, thirsty, tired, ect...

Anything else done is a meaningless chasing of phantoms.


Amen.

Peace.

Ah, so it's ok for you to give my 6 yr old boy material about your god and your afterlife, without my consent, and with the promise of more candy?

I just can't give other 6 year-olds my non-Christian material?

 

[eachallberg]

Ah, so it's ok for you to give my 6 yr old boy material about your god and your afterlife, without my consent, and with the promise of more candy?

I just can't give other 6 year-olds my non-Christian material?

That is not ok.
Your changing the question, maybe trying to catch a fault?

Peace.

 

[Non sequitur]

That is not ok.
Your changing the question, maybe trying to catch a fault?

Peace.

Can you be specific about what is not ok? There were two questions.

 

[ExOrienteLux]

How is it changing the question? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

If it's OK for Christians to hand out tracts and candy to kids, then it's OK for any other religion/philosophy to do the same. If it's not OK for atheists/Muslims/Hare Krishnas/what-have-yous to hand out tracts, then it's not OK for Christians.

 

[eachallberg]

Ah, so it's ok for you to give my 6 yr old boy material about your god and your afterlife, without my consent, and with the promise of more candy?

Are we outside in the middle of a city?
Would you be present? If so, no.
If not, then what would you care?

I just can't give other 6 year-olds my non-Christian material?

I believe you are able to give out writing that is not Christian.

The U.S. says you are free to chose your religion, free to speak.

Now the 2 questions I ask you are:
What are you doing that will last forever?
&
What is your problem with Love?

Peace be with you.