atheists camp for kids

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ B

My moral code is based on my faith. She has no obligations.

I understand that however your moral code is just that, your moral code.

As a parent you can only hope / strive to have your children reflect the good morals that you try to instil in them - but there are no guarantees.

From my own experience I have found that basing ones moral code on their faith is a very dangerous, and potentially faith challenging, thing.

Originally Posted by Russ B

Not around here they haven't - apparently God hasn't changed His mind about missing church being a 'sin'. The South Wales Diocese is as strict as they come. I don't believe in others making the choice of someone else's faith.

I see you're right about the South Wales chapter sticking to the doctrine.

Here in NI the catholic, indeed all, God shops have become more lax in their attitudes towards mass / church attendance - due in no small part to the seismic shift away from conventional religions / faiths.

No bad thing in my opinion. If someone "wants" to go to church then good on them but I agree that they shouldn't feel forced or obliged to attend with the threat of eternal damnation if they don't.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

I understand that however your moral code is just that, your moral code.

Yes it is - however I see a clear difference between a moral code and a specific doctrine.

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

As a parent you can only hope / strive to have your children reflect the good morals that you try to instil in them - but there are no guarantees.

Tell me about it

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

From my own experience I have found that basing ones moral code on their faith is a very dangerous, and potentially faith challenging, thing.

I disagree - challenging faith can make it stronger.

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

No bad thing in my opinion. If someone "wants" to go to church then good on them but I agree that they shouldn't feel forced or obliged to attend with the threat of eternal damnation if they don't.

That has always been one of my major problems with Catholicism - the fear. From my experiences it's the only Christ-following faiths that places such emphasis on "do this or you're in trouble" and is one of the reasons IMO it's as powerful as it is today. Parents know what they're getting in to if they send their children to 'God camp' and I don't see that as a bad thing necessarily, I think it would be good for my daughter to mix with other kids in that environment. But there should always be choice and understanding of other faiths. That's the key - not just tolerance (which to me sounds like "I don't want to get along with you but I'll put up with you because I'm told to") but understanding and respect.

Loathe as i am to get too deep into this but a couple of things have stuck out at me. First you say you would be disappointed if your daughter chose not to follow a chriatian faith Russ but why if after thinking about it and reasoning it out for herself she chose to be whatever why would you be disappointed.

Secondly you seem to infer that having faith has made you a better person, i put it to you that good and bad people are that regardless of anything. They are what they are and having faith of any form will not turn a bad person to the good or lack of faith a good person to bad your a decent person because you choose to be and would continue to be that way if you were not a christian.

Amongst my small social circle i am regarded as trustworthy, decent, fair and honest and all that with the complete abscence of faith of any sort. People need to start seeing themselves rather then putting a tag on or putting good attributes down to something other then self no faith no matter how benign or benevolent will change a person unless they choose to do so beforehand.

Thats what we all need to embrace our humanity in all it's forms not just those told to us by any book or doctrine and to realise that good and bad are choices we make they are not predetermined or destined.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Loathe as i am to get too deep into this but a couple of things have stuck out at me. First you say you would be disappointed if your daughter chose not to follow a chriatian faith Russ but why if after thinking about it and reasoning it out for herself she chose to be whatever why would you be disappointed.

I'd like her to turn out to be a success in life. I hope she studies for a profession and does well in life. If she ends up never having achieved anything and turns out to be a dole-bum I (like any other parent would with their children) would be disappointed.

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Secondly you seem to infer that having faith has made you a better person,

Rubbish. No I haven't.

[Gary L]

I always go by what Confuscious says.
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Originally Posted by Gary L

I always go by what Confuscious says.
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Confucius born 551 BC – 479 BC.Long before the internal combustion engine was invented..

So where did you get the quote and how is it applicable to this thread?

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Confucius born 551 BC – 479 BC.Long before the internal combustion engine was invented..

He did say stable and a horse at the time. someone updated it to a garage and a car

So where did you get the quote and how is it applicable to this thread?

Churches, Christians, Atheists?

[papa smurf]

[The superior man] acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Churches, Christians, Atheists?

It's about a children's summer camp that was set up by a famous atheist so the quote really has very little to do with the topic..

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

It's about a children's summer camp that was set up by a famous atheist so the quote really has very little to do with the topic..

I was just about to say the same thing to Russ.

[downquark1]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

It's about a children's summer camp that was set up by a famous atheist so the quote really has very little to do with the topic..

Incorrect. This is about a secular camp that features non-religious philosophical teaching which has received minor financial support from a foundation set up by a famous atheist.

Originally Posted by Gary L

He did say stable and a horse at the time. someone updated it to a garage and a car

Confucius died about 500 years before Christianity was founded, so even if he used the stable and horse analogy, how did he analogise Christianity?

Originally Posted by downquark1

Incorrect. This is about a secular camp that features non-religious philosophical teaching which has received minor financial support from a foundation set up by a famous atheist.

That wasn't my main point.I'm just trying to get people to remember the topic.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Confucius died about 500 years before Christianity was founded, so even if he used the stable and horse analogy, how did he analogise Christianity?

He was a good fortune teller.

OK Confucius is off topic as from now.