Oxidizing Material

This just suddenly came to mind because I was inhaling fumes from wood polish.

What's wrong with Youth Groups? I remember, I was in one when I was somewhat very younger (maybe a decade or less), and at that time, before I dropped my beliefs, I was Wiccan by parent order. I was teased a lot by my peers, since I was in a Catholic elementary school (the public one was a total wasteland). I remember, when the rest of the kids were having first communion, I declined it because I didn't believe in it, and my teacher at that time actually stood me up in the front of the class and literally screamed at me that I should believe in the Babble and/or Jesus. Keep in mind, I was around 7 at this time and raised into a different religion.

So to keep a low profile, I joined the Youth Group, and ended up being the only male out of about 8 other memebers. Now, it was around this time that I hit puberty (but I had always liked the looks of females. Never bought into that whole "cootie" deal that kept my male peers to this day from getting laid), and the girls who were members of the Youth Group were, in essence, hot. And I was the only guy. Chock one up for Youth Group.

And we never did a lot of "god" stuff. Everyone knew I wasn't of their religion, and by choice or not, they had to respect that and they did. The Youth Group mainly helped out old people and did fund raisers for the Canadian Cancer Society and individuals battling deadly diseases. We also got sugar cookies a lot. +2.

Sure, there were the group lead prayers, but I was never called upon to lead one and I never actually prayed. So that was pretty much a moot point.

I guess the best thing I remember about youth group was the 24 hour famine that they put on to raise money. All I had to do was not eat for 24 hours, hang out with beautiful women and sleep in the church basement with them overnight before we got free pizza the next morning. Win win win.

But, I'm guessing since that I went to a Catholic school (I'm now in a Christian school and perfecting my art of instigation), that youth group was more liberal. Anyone have horror stories/want to fill me in on why they seem to be a bad thing?

ex-idaho

I personally feel that youth groups are horrible. Here in Southwestern Idaho most everyone is Protestant. the typical Protestant youth group masquerades as a teen disco. Blaring loud music with lots of flashing lights. My girlfriend prior to meeting me was a assitant youth leader.

I have a problem with any belief system that tries to suck them in while they are young. Teenagers are not as much of a concern as pre-teens but they are still easily influenced and highly sugestable.

I would not ban them or anything like that but I would have serious problems with allowing my kid if I had one to attend.

Seto

One of my friends went on this trip with a youth group for three days and came back brainwashed, trying to convert me even though she knew I'm atheist. That youth group almost ruined our friendship.

I think they try to target younger people who may be searching for something to believe in, like my friend. She doesn't know if there's a god, and doesn't know what to believe, and usually just follows the flow of majority. One day she'll be Christian, the next she's atheist or something. Anyway, that's the type of person they always seem to go for.

At my school, a pastor always comes in during lunch time and tries to get people to go to it, and one day came over to my table (populated by atheists, agnostics, satanists, and a few Christians).

He started telling us about the youth group and generally trying to convert us or something, I dunno, I just ignored him for the most part. He eventually got the idea and left, but not after getting a few people interested.

I was going to complain to the school about letting this guy in, but never did. Maybe next school year.

GaryP

I have a concern about this in my city. My son was very involved in the youth group at his Presbyterian church.

I discovered that the youth pastor came to the cafeteria every Tuesday. The school policy stated that visitors were discouraged and that they could not discuss religion with the kids. But when I wrote, several times, asking for how the HS policed whether the guy was proselytizing or not. I was completely ignored.

The principal wrote that all kinds of people visit and he gave the military as an example! I wrote that that was exactly what concerned me, recruitment!

I think that many public schools have wonderful, legal written policies but in practice, they are very lax in actually enforcing those policies. The political price would be too great for them.

scarmig

Heh. My "youth group" is what finally broke the christian camel's back. Being one of those people who never "fits in" (still don't), I got worse teenage vitriol from the Xtian youths than I *ever* caught from my dreg public school. In public school I was at least socially justified in fighting back. I think it is no coincidence that the first person to ever tell me they "hated me" was a Xtian youth group member.

Heh

Commence deconversion.

simian

If you can be off work during your kid's lunch time, go there yourself. First time, watch what the minister does. 2nd time on out, imatate it, but using an atheistic/agnostic/what the hell ever viewpoint. The school will rapidly decide to kick you and the Christian grabbers out.

This, of course, is assuming you are willing to do such a thing, and that your kid wouldn't be terminally embarrassed.

Simian

Shake

Funny! I've written here several times about my deconversion having its roots when I was in confirmation (from my father who was teaching the class). This was a Lutheran church, and after an 8th grade confirmation, many of the high school kids were in the youth group. I even went with the group to a convention in Denver, CO (on a bus from upstate NY!), but returned no more pious than before. What's funny is that during these years is when I really started to doubt things a lot! The youth group leaders' son was a year older than me and was in a very rebellious stage (he left right in the middle of class more than once). The youth group was more about morals than religion per se, but questions that got brought up opened my mind and sent me on the trail to deconversion. By my senior year in HS, I was working part time, and volunteered for the Sunday shift, since there were others there who wouldn't work on Sundays, and it gave me an excuse not to go to church.

Like Oxidizing Material, my decision to stay involved with the youth group was more than partly hormonally-influenced (there was this HOT blonde who I just adored... ). Although a friend of mine since 2nd grade got involved in this group called Young Life, which seemed innocent on the surface ... we'd get together and watch movies and snack, but was the start of driving him into being very fundy. <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" /> He's kind of over the top now. I almost don't like getting his letters. I like to know how his kids are, and how he's doing in general, but he's always got to attribute it to the big G. "He's blessed us with a new home ... blah, blah, blah." We go way back, and it's hard to turn your back on an old friend. Oh well, I'm starting to ramble.

beoba

I've only had to deal with youth groups a couple times, and it was so long ago that I don't remember anything that went on in them. I don't remember us really doing anything religious, except for the fact that we were frequently in churches. It just seemed like the church was doing a babysitting job.

Noticing Shake's mention of working on Sunday, I get paid extra for working on Sundays here because of some law, perhaps from the state (Missouri). I think it's odd that they (whoever "they" may be) push this law, but I personally don't mind, Sunday is just another day, and a little more cash in my pocket

Bree

The majority of youth groups I see these days seem like they're trying to pass for Nazi recruitment. It starts with a hook - many churches buy out the local dance clubs for a night or two, play "Christian Techno" and hand out free sodas. The only catch? If you attend this free, wonderous event, then you must go to one of their meetings.

The first few meetings are really great - they're a lot like the clubbing that went on before. Free food, not much mention of God. Then they start reading a little from the Bible...and then a little bit more...and a little bit more. Then they put on "programs" for the church congregation once a month to get these new kids to come to church (hell, they'll even pick you up in their beautiful blue Jesus bus on Sunday morning). Then it's "come twice a month" - you get the idea.

As far as recruiting people in schools, we always had a pastor or two come "sit with us" during lunch time. They'd buy us sodas and extra portions and give out little "Testamints" (lifesaver type candies with a cross cut out in the middle instead of a hole) - really lame stuff. It was always sad to see them single out the kids who didn't have many friends or who was the "outcast" - I'm sure they figured they were the most easily sucked in, since they didn't have a social group to fit into.

GaryP

My kids are all out of school now, but I want to keep my job. I have all kinds of ideas for what I will be willing to do when I retire!

In general, I think you've hit it on the head. The key to change for many issues is to insist on the same rights that christians exercise.