Bible camp

[banthee]

Atheist going to Bible camp? I'm going to a bible camp and I'm kinda worried. On one hand, I really want to find out other people's opinions and on the other, I'm worried that they'll treat me different if (IF) they find out I'm atheist. Any advice?
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[Ultima22689]

....it was horrible, nightmarish, you're better off just keeping that to yourself.

[LegendarySandwich]

Tell them you're an atheist for shits and giggles.

[Cecilie]

Does Jewish mean atheist now?

[Ultima22689]

If you're really an atheist, don't tell bible camp you're an atheist, I made that mistake and i'm scarred for life. I'll never forget the shit those people gave me.

[Tank]

Does Jewish mean atheist now?

One can be an ethnic and cultural Jew and be an atheist. Being Jewish and an atheist are not mutually exclusive conditions.

[EssejSllim]

Well put Tank.

There is a difference between being a religious Jew and being an ethnic Jew. Just like there is a difference between being Arab and being Muslim. Ernestine L. Rose is a perfect example of a very outspoken Atheist Jew. Though, if you are indeed an ethnic Jew, I don't really see how that would classify as a worldview.

I would not recommend going to Bible camp. Growing up a Christian I have been to many things of this nature. As I gravitated more and more towards Atheism, it became harder and harder for me to tolerate being there. Eventually, I had to stop going. Besides, I would read the Bible to learn about Christianity. Many "Christian" organizations and denominations bear little resemblance to the Christianity of the Bible.

[periwinklefish]

Oh dear an atheist doing to bible camp?  Why?  Part of the hook is sleep deprivation.

[Ultima22689]

I was forced into bible camp by my grandparents when I was eight in hopes that the camp would be able to convert me. What Periwinkle said is true. I'm sure they already knew via my grandprents that I didn't believe in god as they continued to goad me into saying it for myself, when I finally did that's when all hell broke loose. All the other kids gasped and ostracized me, not all did but those who didn't began to pity me and were used to convince me to open my heart to Jesus while the camp instructors deprived me of sleep and played christian rock all night, during the day I was forced to read the bible for a few hours then they would engage me in debate to convince me. I wanted to take a rock and smash my head in, I tried to drown myself to escape the torture, luckily I couldn't or rather I didn't have the stones to go all the way through with it. Shortly after there was a day where the parents came to visit, my grandparents were bothered at how disturbed I was but resolved that it was what god wanted. This day I got lucky though. Another kid's parents had brought their older son with them, i'm guessing he was in his late teens, he could tell what I was going through as i'm guessing he went through the same thing, in a great act of kindness he gave me the book he was carrying, The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan. I think that book kept me from going insane or actually entering enough torture to keep myself from going insane.

Three months had passed and it was late august, my grandparents came to visit again but they were surprised at how much better I appeared, they asked me was I happy to have Jesus in my heart, I told them nope, I got Carl Sagan in my heart. So that resulted in a search of my bed where they found the book, the head lady, can't remember her name, took me and the book to her office. She told me the book was the devil's work and literally burned it, with a damn cigarette. I was sad but shortly after enraged and the book was something of a martyr for me. Anyway, moral of the story, while in bible camp KEEP THAT SHIT TO YOURSELF!!!

[Stevil]

I'm kinda worried

I feel you have very good cause to be worried

I really want to find out other people's opinions

Just realise that they are not at all interested in your opinion unless it mirrors their opinion

I'm worried that they'll treat me different if (IF) they find out I'm atheist.

I don't feel a non Christian will fit in within a Bible camp. Christianity is a non tolerant faith, their goal will be to convert you. You are not the first and you will not be the last. They will utilise a well defined and trodden path to convert you. You will not be treated with respect and dignity.

Any advice?

It all depends on you. How old you are, how mature you are, your ability to be different and your ability to compromise your values to fit in.

I feel you should try as hard as you can not to go, I doubt you will enjoy your time.

But then again there are people that can sway in the wind and become part of something and make the most of it, but I think these people are rare. I doubt you can go the whole camp without either lying to everyone or giving away that you are an Atheist.

If you go and they find out that you are an atheist, tell them that it was not your intent to deceive them, you were forced to come and you would hope that they can respect you and your beliefs.
Of course they won't.
Try not to get angry, try not to play their games.
e.g. if they want to debate with you or get you to give an opinion of a passage in the bible, simply tell them that you don't believe in the stories of the bible and that you would appreciate if they would respect your beliefs.
If they ask why you don't believe, tell them that your belief is not based on the bible and you would appreciate them to respect your belief. Don't go into details as you will be then grilled for hours. If they ask what your belief is, simply say it is not based on the Bible.
If they continue, ask them if you can be excused while they continue to discuss the bible amongst themselves.
If they keep going at it, tell them you are not interested in discussing the bible and unless they have something else to talk about you will no longer participate.
If they keep going, simply look away and don't answer, if you can, walk away. If they force you to stay, ask them if they consider kidnapping a criminal offense, also ask them if you can use the phone. If they grab you or physically force you, ask them if they consider assault a criminal offense, ask if you can use the phone. Take down the names of the people that touch you.

I have never been to Bible camp so don't know what you can expect, I just don't think it will go down well for you. Likely the abuse will be psychological rather than physical, this is a well trodden path so they will likely break the law as little as possible and if they do, they would deny it. It will be 30 people's opinions against yours. Just keep asking them to please respect your beliefs.
Try to remain as the innocent victim (do not lash out), hopefully some others will feel sorry for you and see how ugly Christianity can be.
Be strong, you will survive and you will rejoin the real world soon enough.

[Saeriva]

I went to Bible Camp once as a young'un and don't have any bad memories of it. I liked Girl Scout camp better but only because the Girl Scouts were better organized, had a nature house and horseback riding. I remember nightly sermons by the lake (which my bunkmate and I thoroughly ignored, passing each other notes as the councilors preached) and a few small group discussions, but mostly I remember playing volleyball and swimming in the lake.

I have no idea what kind of camp your going to, but the denomination running it will make a big difference in your experience there. A more laid back sect, like the Methodists, will probably run a more enjoyable camp than say a Baptist or Ecstatic Catholic run camp (if THEY'RE running it, I'm afraid your SOL). In my experience however, the kids you're likely to be there with will be in a similar boat, fairly apathetic about faith and only there because their parents signed them up for it. The girls in my cabin never talked about religion, we became friends because we all liked Sailor Moon.

The best advice I can give is to focus on the fun things you're going to do there and try not to make a big deal about religion as much as the councilors will try to, and it shouldn't be terrible.

[xSilverPhinx]

I think Saeriva has a valid point. I doubt it's going to be all bible and religon, so that should keep you from having to endure constant psychological torture. I would bring something else to do as a passtime, something more interesting like a crossword puzzle, another book to read or simply try to put poems together in your head.

I think I would take a different approach, if it were me who was forced to go to a bible camp.   I don't take to narrow-minded ignorant fundies too well. But it's very counter productive. Best try and keep a low profile and not stir up too much.

[McQ]

Atheist going to Bible camp? I'm going to a bible camp and I'm kinda worried. On one hand, I really want to find out other people's opinions and on the other, I'm worried that they'll treat me different if (IF) they find out I'm atheist. Any advice?
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