Please Tell Me This Is NOT How Most Christians Feel!?

Question

I just reviewed a question I answered earlier HERE http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ak5keyUiF7lA7g1AvwOeywTty6IX?qid=20070516073909AAxIJoL&show=7#profile-info-iScNZJWSaa

and I CANNOT BELIEVE the reponse of most of the Christians there! I HAD to show it to my friend (who is Christian) and she cannot believe it either! This CANNOT be typical of ALL Christians can it? I HOPE not!

You would rather a former convicted pedophile who is now Christian to teach your kids than a gay person, Mormon or JW or Moslem?

Do you know how MANY "former" pedophiles relapse? I am a therapist and the rates of rehabilitation for sex offenders is VERY low. That can pose a SERIOUS danger if it is YOUR child the offender relapses with. Or do you feel that becoming a Christian automatically 'cures' a pedophile? Don't Christians sin?

What danger does a teacher who is gay, Mormon or JW put your children in exactly? Please explain to me and all the other rational Christians out there.

Answer 1

Well after 21 years in law enforcement (and as a Christian), I can tell you that pedophiles are not reformable. Plain and simple. I guess I don't have a problem with a teacher who is gay teaching my kids, nor a Mormon or JW. But, reasonably, let me ask, what subject are they teaching? The answer to that may tend for me to change my answer as to which of those I would want teaching.

Answer 2

Would you take a recovering alcoholic to an open bar day after day after day? Would a true recovering alcoholic want to go? Probably not- because if they did they would most likely fall off the wagon due to the temptation.

So why would you allow a "recovered" pedophile to be with children continuosly? You are really just asking for trouble. You are putting the pedophile in a position, where it will be easily tempted and have easy access to their temptation. Really not a good idea. In the mean time you are putting children at danger.

Pedophiles can exist in any of the other categories.

As for the other religions- Mormons, Muslims and JW's tend to have really high moral standards- so if you are looking for someone to teach your children values, then you have the teachers.

I have not met many JW's or Muslims, but those JW's that I have met seem to be good people with great morals. My understanding of Islam is limited to what I have heard in the media and what I have heard from a religion expert. According to the media- if I went with what they say, I would not let my children be around Muslims- by if I was basing all my info on what the media says- I would not hang around Mormons either, but being a life-long Mormon, I know they are incorrect So I have to believe the same thing about Muslims.

While I don't agree with the homosexual lifestyle, I see no reason why they should not be allowed to teach my kids- as long as they leave their views out of the classroom and their sexuality. But I say that about any other group mentioned here.

Many of you may have children whose teachers fall into the same categories mentioned above and you don't know it. That is because this is America and we don't have to disclose our religion or lifestyle choices when applying for a job- it will be a sad day when we do have to.

Now if my children were going to a religious school, then I would prefer that they be taught by someone affiliated or atleast knowledgable in that religion.

Answer 3

Let me start by stating that I would rather have a person who is free from having performed any lude act with anyone be the teacher of my child. No matter what the religious preference.
But I also cannot believe in my heart of hearts, that someone who has studied to be a therapist, not a psycho therapist I hope, would come an outburst like yours.
Because if anyone should have a belief that someone can fully rehabilitate and through belief in Christ, do so, then why not permit this person to teach as well.
I too am a therapist, psycho-therapist for the last 19 years and cannot see the use of corse language you use in your explanation coming from anyone who really practices therapy.
The goal of all therapy is to provide the person with the rehab needed to fully turn their lives around, similar to physical therapy, and if this is such the case, then I would have no problem with anyone teaching, what needs to be taught to my children.
But I do worry with religious zealots trying to push their belief on my child and therefore I would be more against a zealot than that person who has found Christ and really has made a positive recovery.
Yes, some people relapse, some are fakers, and that is where the problem lies.
God bless you and I pray that you learn, therapeutically, to first of all love above all limitations you may have, and secondly that you can see past the ignorance others have as well, in thinking that because of someones religious preference they cannot teach their child.

Answer 4

As a life long christian, I can tell you I'd let a gay, a mormon, maybe even a gay mormon, not sure about the JW, but most definitely would never allow any pedophile anywhere near my kids. Religion can't be taught in school, so I shouldn't be even nervous about the JW. A pedophile should never be allowed anywhere near any school. Different religions or sexual preferences do not make a person a predator, which is exactly what a pedophile is. The only cure for a pedophilia is castration, and I do not mean the pharmaceutical type, they can simply not take it. I cannot believe any christian or anyone else for that matter, would allow a pedophile anywhere near their kids, yet be afraid of a gay person or mormon damaging their child. It defies logic.

Answer 5

"I HAD to show it to my friend (who is Christian) and she cannot believe it either! This CANNOT be typical of ALL Christians can it?"
Didn't you just answer your own question there? If your friend, who is Christian, can't believe it, then how can it be typical of ALL Christians? And I think at least three other Christians stated that their preference would be to homeschool over those options.

"You would rather a former CONVICTED pedophile who is now Christian to teach your kids than a gay person, Mormon or JW or Moslem?" (emphasis added)

Actually, the original choice was: "A fundamentalist Christian ACCUSED of child abuse before being 'born again'" (emphasis added) Yeah, I realize I'm being nitpicky, since some didn't tell the difference.

As for me, I couldn't say for sure whether I could allow an ex-abuser to teach one of my kids. I suppose it would depend a lot on the individual and how closely he is being monitored and whether there would be any chances for him to be alone with any of the children. But even then, it would be a difficult decision.

Answer 6

Something I found very interesting about the answers given in the question your referred to .. was people saying things like "I would not want any of them"... OK.. I must say, this confuses me.. How do they know their kids teachers are not one of those as it is? (Of course, the child abuser.. they should be told about.. and shouldn't be able to get the job anyway.. but then you did say "Accused" as well.. doesn't say whether they were falsely accused or not)..

Chances are that someone is teaching your kids right now that is a JW or something. I'm sure it's not something that they have to divulge at all (religious choice) to get the job.

Given the list of choices.. I wonder if maybe the Muslim wouldn't be the best choice of all because.. I don't know for sure, but you don't hear about them pushing their belief systems all the time.. I've never had a Muslim come to my door preaching to me, etc.. So, chances are they are not going to bring religion into the classroom as others might..

Of that list, the only one that immediately makes me think of my child being put in danger is the sex offender one.

That's sad in my eyes .. that people would automatically choose the one guy because he's "born again"... Believe me.. I'm a Christian and I know that we're human and sin even once we are "born again".. so that person has the most chance in the bunch of becoming a problem!!

Answer 7

Please reread the question, the asker asks about "A fundamentalist Christian accused of child abuse before being "born again". The keyword is accused. You are very right about the high number of times actual pedophiles relapse. But just being accused does not make a person guilty. Here is my response to the question you link to:
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By and large it depends on what is being taught, and where I am during the instructing. Case in point, many public school teachers have differing faiths, beliefs, backgrounds and the like. As for your options I would, assuming said person knew the subject, choose the Jehovah's Witness. For a few reasons.

For one thing, the first option is an oxymoron. If the teacher was Christian then they would certainly never perform homosexual acts. So even if he/she were interested in others of the same gender it is doubtfull anyone would even know.

As for the last choice, being accused does not mean guilt. A friend's sister used to accuse guys of things, ALLOT, sadly she might have been telling the truth in ONE or TWO of the cases, however because she made things up so often the Judge didn't even seem to consider that she was being honest. So Firstly, it would greatly depend on the allegations, the validity of the allegations, and how things settled. As for deciding to try to change their life, more power to him/her. I do think the person would need extra scrutiny for both the protection of the kid, and for the protection of the person, assuming he/she is innocent.

As for the 3 middle choices. All 3 have members who are intelligent decent people. I chose Witness because as one, I know we strive to be honest, and also I know that if for some reason belief should come up as an issue, I would already know where the teacher was coming from.
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I personally was accused of molesting, my Nephew. I didn't even know until months after the accusation was made. The Boyfriend of my Nephew's mother had the same name as me. Appearantly my nephew said something about James, touching him inappropriately. The boyfriend suggested it must be his Uncle James. As it was, I had just started seeing my nephew again as his mother and my family were rather estranged. I had NEVER been alone with him. The accusation was completely rediculous. When we found out it had been made, my mother called my the Dad of my nephew's mother. His response was, "I thought that was resolved months ago". Still the mother used it as a reason for her new Husband not liking me. So even though there was No proof in support of, and in fact allot of evidence against the claim, it was still used against me. Now, like the teacher in the question, I need to be very careful. I am NEVER alone with my nephew. Not because I would ever do something so disgusting, but to protect my reputation.

Answer 8

I have to assume your premise to answer your question. The premise is that the teacher who was a pedophile is now a Christian. I am assuming you mean a "born again Christian and not someone who is not Jewish and just claims to be a Christian. If the former pedophile is born again, I would have no problems what so ever with having him or her teach my children. I would be more uncomfortable with a Gay, Mormon or JW teaching my children, because as a Christian, I would;d feel my children would be better instructed. I would not have to worry that the child would be molested by a Gay, or mis-informed by a Mormon or a JW.

Answer 9

Not all Christians feel the same everything. The danger of having a teacher that is gay, Mormon or Muslim is spiritual danger. I don't think I would let a former child abuser teach my children, but I wouldn't let the other ones either. I would home school. Yes Christians do sin, which means you as a Christian could sin in front of your child, but either way, I still wouldn't choose the former abuser for my child.

Answer 10

Honestly, that's not surprising at all. I know several Christians who believe just that. Typical? It seems to be anymore... the more they struggle with other religions coming out, the more outrageous they seem to get with this type of thing. They have the attitude of "forgive and forget" so long as someone says "I believe Jesus is my saviour" - it doesn't matter if the person saying it really means it or not. They're just happy to get another convert. But to them, gays, Mormons, JW's are just as bad, to them, as us Pagans are. The only thing about this that is surprising is when relapses do happen, they will still defend that person "Oh, he repented... he won't do it again... God forgave him, why can't you?"

There are very few Christians who do not do this type of thing. We have to consider though that the majority of Christians, those who claim to be Christian, don't know much about their own religion, let alone what the hell really goes on in the world. They get most of their religion fed to them and whatever their favorite preacher, TV evangelist, etc says MUST be the absolute truth cause they said so! *Sigh*