Education

Was it ‘Oppressive’ for These ‘White’ Christian Missionaries to Distribute VBS Invites Outside a NYC Public School? (Poll)

Concord Baptist Church Missionaries Criticized for VBS Fliers at P.S. 282

Discrimination or Christian kindness? This is one of the questions following a controversy that erupted after Southern missionaries passed out fliers urging public school children to attend Bible school in New York City.

Three white men from Concord Baptist Church in Pickens, South Carolina (and we’ll tell you why their race is important in a moment), were in New York City this month for an annual week-long missions trip. In an effort to help Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, a church in Park Slope, Brooklyn, bolster its membership, the missionaries stationed themselves outside P.S. 282 to pass out vacation Bible school (VBS) invitations to the children.

Concord Baptist Church Missionaries Criticized for VBS Fliers at P.S. 282

Image Credit: Park Slope Elementary & Middle School

The men allegedly stood at the public school’s front gate on Tuesday to hand out the invites during morning drop-off, a busy time during which children and parents flow into and out of the building. While church members claim that no children were forced to take the fliers, DNAInfo.com reports that a number of parents were uncomfortable with their children, ranging from grades first through fifth, being urged to do so.

What resulted was furor on the part of some who believe that it’s irresponsible and improper for missionaries to be taking such actions outside of a public school. But the criticisms went well beyond the traditional church versus state argument, as some parents even charged that the missionaries are “discriminatory.”

“I know this church. Every summer they truck these kids up to proselytize,” said Ernestine Heldring, a mother with children at the school who also attends a Dutch Reformed church in New York. “It‘s a brand of Christianity that’s homophobic and homogeneous, and I find it oppressive to have three white guys standing there making it impossible for kids to pass without taking a flier.”

Concord Baptist Church Missionaries Criticized for VBS Fliers at P.S. 282

Image Credit: Concord Baptist Church

While this may seem like an odd statement, apparently Heldring was uncomfortable with the racial differences between the three white missionaries and the diverse student body (67 percent of students at the school are African American). She was also upset over the church’s rejection of gay marriage.

Here is reaction from another parent who also stood opposed to the missionaries actions, as per DNAInfo.com:

A dad at the school said he was equally upset, especially because of the number of P.S. 282 kids with gay parents and the fact that the school serves children of “Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Tenrikyo, Buddhist, Agnostic and Atheist parents,” he said.

“These outsiders from South Carolina are showing little respect for our school, our neighborhood, our diversity and our values here in Brooklyn,” wrote the father, who didn’t want to be named, in an email.

“Park Slope is relatively affluent — perhaps if they really want to honor Christ’s teachings they could go to some disadvantaged areas of the city and feed the poor.”

But the church denies these discriminatory claims and Concord Baptist Pastor Guy Roberts merely says that Jesus Christ is the message that the church wishes to spread. That’s why his parishioners have run a missions trip for young members to go to New York City and help out the community for the past 15 years.

“Christ loved us and we love the world. That might be offensive to some people because they feel like we’re ramming it down their throats, but we feel like we have the truth,” Roberts explained. “We want to share it because we love Christ.”

The pastor went on to say that the fliers in question didn’t contain scripture or Christian doctrine and that they were merely invitations for the children and families to consider. The school’s principal was apparently unaware of the dissemination of information for VBS, but Heldring later notified her.

In the end, the key question is: Were the tactics used by the missionaries appropriate? Considering that this is a diverse public school and that young minds are impressionable, was the outside gate the most viable place to hand out fliers? Take our poll, below:


(H/T: DNAInfo.com)

Comments (245)

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  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:21am

    If only they were handing out condoms and free abortions, then all would have been well.

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:11pm

      Not appropriate to go straight to the children.
      Some parents might go all the way up to the gate, but this action was obviously targeting the children.
      If groups are to be allowed to pass out their publicity at school gates– wow that’s just opening a big can of worms! How about other religious groups chatting with your kids as they walk into school? How about rainbow groups with nice rainbow t-shirts? Yeah, yeah–I get the hypocrisy of the ignorant racist comments, but this one is a no-brainer.

      GETLIFE  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:40pm

      @Life — VBS is for the kids not the parents; that’s why they “target” the kids w/the fliers.

      The Left is pretty intent on cramming down Christians throats the entire Left agenda fm premarital sex to homosexuality to worship of the state. At least Jesus is a positive, potentially self-actualizing message.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • AnimalsAsLeaders
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 5:58pm

      How exactly does one “hand out” an abortion?

      Report Post » AnimalsAsLeaders  
    • Wolfgang the Gray
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 7:26pm

      It seems to be getting closer. Can you feel it? A house divided cannot stand.

      Atheists, Islam, and Oral Sex is allowed in and around schools, but God, teaching of God, or even a week long camp about God are all evil and forbidden. I attend VBS in my younger days and they were always great. This isn’t mandatory, it is an offer to those that want to go.

      What is next? Banning a Coke machine because it is discriminatory by not selling Pepsi products?

      I am willing to cut the liberal states loose and let them have their own country. Let them become another failed socialist state that bans God.

      Report Post » Wolfgang the Gray  
    • Valuable
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:22pm

      A guest-speaker at an assembly we were required to attend handed out condoms at my high school in 1988.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:19am

      My in-laws were saved through a bus ministry that took my husband and his brother to church. My husband and his brother got saved, and convinced their parents to go a couple times, and they got saved. Some parents just saw the bus ministry as a way of getting rid of the kids for a few hours on Sunday, but some get saved. They wouldn’t have a problem if they were handing out gay information (fisting booklets, maybe?) or prostyltizing for the Muslim religion I’d wager. By the way, we’re white, but the bus ministry mostly picked up from the projects and it was mostly black.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:21am

      Yo Getlife:

      You got it … is not the “school” teaching these “children” , what makes it SOOOOO wrong when Christ is involved.

      Any wise person would teach the children well … you want us to leave our hands off them so you can do as you will … is not that discrimination! I would use a much stronger word here but for your sake …

      Report Post »  
    • may40
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:38am

      To is a reply to “getalife”. VBS is a wonderful outreach. Teaching children about treating others as you want to be treated and having manners and most importantly the God love them. Oh yeah, that’s some bad stuff right there. The problem today is that so many kids and adults are living without the knowledge of Who God is and don’t see their purpose in life and therefore we see more crime, hate, ignorance, murder, depression, drug and alcohol abuse etc. Try the Lord and see if He doesn’t change your life for the better.

      Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:00am

      “They wouldn’t have a problem if they were handing out gay information (fisting booklets, maybe?) or prostyltizing for the Muslim religion I’d wager.”

      Ah… the patented Blaze shuffle. Approach an issue by speculating something then didn’t actually happen and then use that to justify your opinion about what DID happen. That’s pretty funny.

      But really–you folks get mad about the idea of Science classes teaching Science rather than Creationism because you think it will turn kids away from the religious programming that you are trying to instil in them–if you take this position, then you can’t reasonably allow missionaries to bypass parents in order to preach to children outside of a school.

      Report Post »  
    • Warpspeedpetey
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:06pm

      Christophobic hate. Period

      This is an entirely appropriate method of proselytizing children. These hypocrites who are complaining about it have no problem when their homophilic and atheist world views are promoted on television, in the movies and in the schools. Just as we can tell our children not to watch their propaganda, they can instruct their children not to take a flyer or attend Vacation Bible School.

      These people are just being hypocrtitical christianaphobes

      Report Post »  
    • meeknotweak
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:53pm

      @GetLife – VBS is for kids, they should gove it to the parents who then decide. People can choose Which God they follow after, this is just one choice being offerred. Like the writer said – if it was condoms or about sexual techniques, birth control to a 5 year old, that would be less controversial than this. Oh yes what about Islam as a loving and kind culture that is proven to be so ancient and righteous, that would be fine to introduce this directly to children, yes. The truth is, that mainstream America HATES the God of theBible that same God who has kept Isreal as the apple of His eye, That same God who sent his Son Jesus Christ (that name everyone uses as a blasphemous swearword), beciase if they had to believe they would have to forsake thier abhorrant life of hedonism nad the culture of death (abortion) and self entitlement that is manifested as “rights”. They & you and me will all oneday bow their knee to this same God. Until then I will speak out against dopes like you, who refuse to see what you are doing to your children with your expansionsitic and foolish mind.

      Report Post » meeknotweak  
    • Thatsenough
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:13pm

      True…these folks may have lots of money (”affluenza, anyone?”) but they are truly poor in spirit if even this faint whiff of Christianity insults them….

      Report Post »  
    • binge_thinker
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:54pm

      Most of these complainers are religophobes in general.

      I do wonder though if they had issues with eight years old in New Jersey being forced to sing songs in praise to Obama and kids barely even teenagers being taught sex ed in NYC public schools by God only knows who.

      Report Post » binge_thinker  
    • The Giver
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:29pm

      I would not tolerate this and I am a Christian. No one goes near my child with a solicitation. They could have been trying to kidnap a child or worse. NO Way. What were they thinking? How do you know what some nut job’s motives are? Leave the children alone. Change the schools.

      Report Post » The Giver  
    • db321
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:47pm

      THIS IS ANOTHER LIE BY THE BLAZE FAITH EDITOR. This is not Glenn’s, or the Blaze Staff’s doing this. This is the intention manipulation of Polls results by the Faith Editor of the Blaze. The Faith Posts from the Blaze lately have been slanted one way and let‘s just say that Satan’s is Glad and God may be a little Mad!

      Every Weekend I have noticed Faith Articles that make Christians look idiotic and Atheist look like hero.

      I love what Glenn is doing, but he has way to much belief in people. He cannot imaging that any person working for him could lie, cheat, manipulate or steal. Most people that believe that one day, they will be held accountable for every word and deed in their life. Satan tells his people if it feels good – do it. Satan, has one mission on earth, and that is to Lie, Deceive and Distroy.

      So Blaze subscribers if you believe the results, that 70% plus of Blaze readers believe that this Church was Dead wrong for passing out flyers of Vacation Bible School as kids lift the a school.

      My guess it was one loud mouth Atheist that complained, may even had been the Faith Editor for the Blaze for all I know, and that turns out to be that 70% are against this Christian Church. I call BS.

      My guess is that the editor accidentally reversed the poll data. So when you voting a against – it is showing up in favor. Two Weeks in a roll.

      Report Post » db321  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:10pm

      @db321

      I noticed the poll is gone. I never got the chance to see it.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • FoxieLog
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:42pm

      God gave man “free will” and God is not a beggar. The church should have made all materials and flyers available to those wishing to receive them. Nobody should have handed out anything to anybody unless requested to do so. Most people don’t know this rule and get upset for other reasons. It seems that whenever white people do anything to or for minorities, there’s always the chance the white people will be called racist; this is just a fact of life and what I say is nothing new or surprising.

      Putting this into perspective – how would you like it if somebody tried to get strangers to like you or go to a summer school on your behalf, by pushing brochures, fliers and whatever into their path. You would say stop it, I will get my own friends. That”s how our Heavenly Father feels. Jesus says “Come to me..”, not hey mister, bring some people to me.

      Report Post »  
    • do_it_all_again
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:50pm

      @DB321
      You are exactly right ! in fact, when i voted, my vote was credited to the opposite answer, and this is not the first poll on here to do that!

      It utterly amazes me how much FEAR people have about the truth, they are AFRAID someone might question their leftest/evil/slant and start to look for answers,, it is FEAR,, pure and simple,, they dont want anyone to question the agenda of satan, so they will fight and oppose anyone who tries to tell the truth,,, plain and simple FEAR !
      If you dont believe that fine, but you need to give others the right to decide for themselves !! but your threatened by the truth, that is why you dont want see or hear anything about GOD, JESUS, the BIBLE, CHURCH, the CROSS, or anything that has to do with MORALITY,,,, YOU ARE AFRAID !!!
      And you dont want anyone else to hear it either, because they might believe!
      It really must be a living HELL to be so AFRAID of something,, but there will be some that claim they are not AFRAID,, so if your not AFRAID why not let people make up their own mind, or do you think you are the only ones who can understand things? it that it?

      Psychology says people fight the things they are AFRAID of and dont understand, and the level they are fighting, proves just how AFRAID they are !!!

      Report Post »  
    • alinmatt
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 5:03pm

      I don’t know about anyone else, but I tell my kids not to take anything from strangers. It would bother me to see grown men standing at the gate of a school handing out candy. It doesn‘t matter what they’re handing out. They’re strangers approaching children. It would probably be better for kids from within the school to share invitations with their friends, or parents sharing with parents.

      Report Post »  
    • mareseb
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:00pm

      They don‘t need to do that SquidVetOhio because they get plenty of condoms handed out to them inside the school and free abortions offered whenever they confess that they’re pregnant. Planned Parenthood (formerly American Eugenics Society) actually canvasses and promotes abortions in order to make money and jusfity the agency’s existence.

      Report Post »  
    • TunaBlue
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:52pm

      “Park Slope is relatively affluent — perhaps if they really want to honor Christ’s teachings they could go to some disadvantaged areas of the city and feed the poor.”

      They DO help and feed the poor and disadvantaged (whatever that means). But truly the poorest and most helpless must be the arrogant who believe they need no help from God.

      Report Post »  
    • jo blo
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:07pm

      @getalife

      Do you think Obama’s GAY PEDOPHILE-covering schools czar should be barred from going directly to the kids through his sick perverted ‘fisting’ manuals? I do. But I bet you just think that’s for people who want kids in church, right?

      Report Post »  
    • FedUpWithLibs
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:54pm

      MAY40
      Would you be okay with me standing in front of your kids school handing out propaganda that is pro-atheist or pro-hedonist. Neither of these teach hurting others. There are alot of different superstitions that don’t hurt people. That don‘t mean I want people bothering my kids with them when they’re trying to go to school.

      Report Post » FedUpWithLibs  
    • marine65
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 12:16am

      THE-MONK, Question: Were the missionaries wrong to distribute VBS invites outside a public school?
      Answer: Yes, absolutrly — 9.72% (586 votes)
      No Way – 83.68% (5,045 votes)
      I’m in the middle on this one – 6.6% (398 votes)

      This was the poll results at 11:15 pm on 6-30-12..

      Report Post »  
    • sixtysix
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 7:46am

      Liberals are fine with the schools teaching the children how to use condoms and brain-washing them about the wonders of gay parentage. Never mind that gay parents cannot become so without outside help – ergo, their unions are unnatural. Any deviant teaching is okay; but, don’t bring up God. He is liable to teach the children to be kind, loving, morally upright.

      Report Post »  
    • James Frazier
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:05pm

      GETALIFE …all these groups you are talking about are all ready doing this with open arms..CAIR Homosexual groups, Atheist, everyone but Christians are aloud to distribute or talk with students.

      Report Post »  
    • kellyclawoo
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:15pm

      yep. and if a parent complained they’d be the bigots.

      Report Post »  
  • jimbo_from_suwanee
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:18am

    The Dread Pirate Chief Justice Roberts agrees with the school. Asking the missionaries to move ago is just a motion/activity tax.

    Report Post » jimbo_from_suwanee  
  • MeCpl13
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:14am

    No they weren’t oppressing anyone. I don’t completely agree with their tactics, but there wasn’t anything wrong about them, either. Sad that race has to always be brought into things. Racism is alive and well- but being racist against whites supposedly isn’t really racism, right? Isn‘t that what we’re being told?

    Report Post »  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:51am

      Well put…now I don’t have to post. :)

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • brooklynrob
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:57am

      Setting aside whether the church was is in its right to be on the sidewalk and distributing religious literature, what about our rights as parents? I saw what happened first hand. 3 men were approaching unaccompanied children getting off buses, older unaccompanied children who walk to school, and younger accompanied children w/ parents. Concord may have been in their rights to do so, but are parents ok with churches taking advantage of the fact that a child is on the sidewalk for a couple dozen feet from the school bus to the school itself to use that as a time to proselytize? Myself, I didn‘t even register the race component and that’s a non-issue so far as I’m concerned. It’s a very diverse school in a very diverse area. What bothers me is that I saw unaccompanied children being approached when their parents weren’t there to contextualize and explain what was being told to them. Again, I think if this were another religion out there approaching kids getting off buses, at least some of the posters on this board might see things differently. If 3 Muslim men from Brooklyn drove to Pickens, SC to approach elementary school kids getting off buses, would everyone on this board be as supportive?

      And as I said in my other post, to me the most likely illegality of what happened is around the fact that PS282 was an open polling place at the time. In a sense, voters are more protected that students in this instance (school used as both a school and voting place simultaneously)

      Report Post »  
    • minorityconservative2
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:33pm

      @Brooklynrob

      I am a CHRISTian from a Baptist church myself. No I would not have a problem with any other religion handing out invitations to an activity at their place of worship. It is not like they forced them to take the flyer. And for heaven’s sake it is a flyer. A lot of you people up in New York don’t mind them handing out condoms or information for planned parenthood, but to be upset about an invitation to church service is crazy. It is a 1st amendment protection, freedom of speech thing. I know the liberals don’t agree with conservatives getting that same right just like they do but for now we do have the right. And please with the voting thing and it being against the law. This world is crazy. We have a church in our community where people go to vote. Liberals keep talking about separation of church and state but they don’t mind voting at the liberal church down the street.

      Report Post »  
    • The Giver
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:38pm

      When you give special status to one race over another… that is racist. As an American person ( Cuban born), I am very sorry about the racism that ANY person of any color experiences. Whites have to stand and not let this continue. How about starting NAAAP ( National Association for the Advancement of ALL People!!!! I would join.

      Report Post » The Giver  
    • WWJD12
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:55am

      I was there. I am a Christian. This is not about the Truth, or it being OK to behave badly because liberal lefties do – that response is sounds like something that belongs on the playground. This is about common sense and simple courtesy. When strangers come into your community, you would expect them to ask permission from a Principal if they are going to approach the school community – that is only polite. Also, I‘m sure you would agree it’s never appropriate or safe for adults to directly approach unaccompanied children, which is what these 3 men were doing to kindergarten and 1st grade kids who were getting off the school bus. I doubt you would be thrilled if you heard strangers were directly interfering with your children in your absence. It would have been smarter and more polite, since it is the parents deciding if their kids can go to Bible School, to present the opportunity directly to the parents, say at a presentation one evening at the Library. As Christians it is important to set an example of civility and compassion!

      Report Post »  
  • LukeAppling
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:11am

    We do that always at our Lutheran church and our Daily Vacation Bible School is packed every year.
    Who would resist the love of Jesus?

    Report Post »  
    • Reason Trumps Religion
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:08pm

      Who would resist the love of the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy? Or magical pink unicorns?

      Report Post »  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:41pm

      Pretty obvious Reason that you’ve not meet Jesus yet…maybe some pushy or cynical wannabe Christians.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • Warpspeedpetey
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:24pm

      @reason

      If you don’t believe in things that are invisible, then how can you have the invisible belief that “I don’t believe in things that are invisible?

      You contradict yourself in the formal logical sense of the word. You do this by asserting as valid an invisible belief that says all statements like itself are invalid. If this invisible belief is valid then it is also invalid because invisible beliefs are invalid. That violates the Principle of Non Contradiction. It states that contradictory statements cannot both be true in the same sense, e.g. the two propositions “A is B” and “A is not B” are mutually exclusive.
      Which you can view here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_noncontradiction

      As you can see, the fundamental belief of atheism, is provably false.

      On the other hand we can see that invisible beliefs can be valid because we really do not need see a belief in order for it to be true.

      The heart of Atheism is thus irrevocably proven to be a false belief. At the same time we see that Theism is consistent with the recognized principles of thought we base our very ability to reason on.

      Report Post »  
  • SCSlimBoi
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:06am

    Oppressive? Try a number of New Black Panther members standing outside a polling place while carrying and displaying baseball bats. Oh, wait a minute. Attorney General Holder decided that was nothing to worry about.

    So how could anyone possibly find troubling the handing out of flyers about Vacation Bible School? Were the missionaries carrying clubs or guns? Were the kids being intimidated or made to fear they would be beaten up if they didn’t take a flyer?

    Report Post »  
    • Valuable
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:24pm

      Good one!! Sad but true!!

      Report Post »  
    • binge_thinker
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:56pm

      That‘s Obama’s civilian army, so you wouldn’t expect a ruckus to ensue. Only when Jesus Christ is mentioned, do the delicate sensibilities of the tough Brooklyn crowd get all hot and bothered.

      Report Post » binge_thinker  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:00am

    I have people coming to my door all the time to hand me invitations to churches that don’t believe like I do. I smile, tell them “Thank you” and promptly throw it in the trash when they’re gone.

    An invitation is not a demand.

    Report Post » qpwillie  
    • Bearfoot
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:10am

      Qpwillie,

      They realise you do not believe as they do, and that you can throw their literature in the trash.
      So why do they come to your door?

      Report Post » Bearfoot  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:42am

      @Bearfoot
      Well, I doubt they know how I believe before they knock on the door but if it makes them feel good to leave their invitations, it doesn’t bother me.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • Bearfoot
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:06pm

      Qpwillie,

      So that is why they come to your door, to make you feel good by throwing their efforts, time, money, and interest in you, in the trash. I see!

      Jesus our Lord told his disciples to preach the “good news of the kingdom” and in doing so, some would not appreciate what it takes to accomplish that commission. Matthew 24:14, 28:18-20

      Report Post » Bearfoot  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:11pm

      bearfoot at least qp is polite and not starting a fight. They come to my door to , I talk to them but they are not forcing me by leaving their invitation. If they belong to a church that I do not agree with their teaching I just say no thank you and they are on their way.

      Report Post »  
    • mecanic
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 12:01pm

      bearfoot, the way you spell, you must have attened public school.

      Report Post » mecanic  
    • GodFearingAtheist
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:02pm

      1967 – Two “white” ladies came to our house in Texas handing out religious pamphlets when I was seven years old. My mother suddenly “saw the light and found Jehovah” and used it to verbally challenge (beat up) her father who was a Baptist.

      I was raised a jehovah”s witness and forced to go door to door handing out those pamphlets warning that 1975 was the year of Armageddon. My parents pulled us out of school and made us hand out more pamplets. It eventually destroyed my family.

      I have two brothers who are also disfellowshipped (ex JWs) and two divorced sisters who remain buried in the “Truth” with my mom. My father is a 82 yr old dying man with no relationship with his three sons.

      None of us have talked to each other in over 12 yrs. (last time was at my grand father’s funeral)
      I have one of the most disfunctional families you will ever meet, thanks to those pamphlets.

      Funny thing, back then, if they had been two black ladies, I wouldn’t be writing this. Praise Jah.

      previous comment:
      “I think if this were another religion out there approaching kids getting off buses, at least some of the posters on this board might see things differently. If 3 Muslim men from Brooklyn drove to Pickens, SC to approach elementary school kids getting off buses, would everyone on this board be as supportive?”

      Report Post » GodFearingAtheist  
    • Bearfoot
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:59pm

      Godfearing, – I have one of the most disfunctional families you will ever meet, thanks to those pamphlets.

      Are you sure that the dysfunction in your family is due to “pamphlets”?

      Could it be due to your family being dysfunctional? A family needs to be unified in it’s outlook and goals. If some in the family resists, then dysfunction results. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

      Don’t blame God, lets blame our own inability to make God’s Word real in our life. – Matthew 10:34-37

      Report Post » Bearfoot  
    • Bearfoot
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 2:02pm

      mecanic – bearfoot, the way you spell, you must have attened public school.

      It is spelled attended.

      Report Post » Bearfoot  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:58am

    If the government says it was oppressive then it must be. They are the ultimate lord and masters now. Conform and obey, lest they kill you.

    Report Post » Cavallo  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:59am

      Then let them kill me. I would rather die a free man than live as an obamanite.

      Report Post »  
  • Reason Trumps Religion
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:54am

    As an atheist, I say “who fvcking cares?” Yea, these guys sound like an annoying nuisance, but why is this news?

    Report Post »  
  • DREDGE
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:51am

    As legal as black panthers stopping and intimidating voters on election day at the polls, mercy!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • YourVoiceMatters
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:48am

    What were they afraid the Kids might have had fun and been challenged by real Truth! ???
    It is not an oppression camp it is vacation Bible school…hello!
    It is fun, snacks, games, and recreatioal, relaxed, instrucion of the Word, for kids just leaving the rigors of school for the year! For some kids they have never in their lives heard the Truth of God’s love for them! Any one ever attend these??? How hard hearted can you be to find fault in this? Now i think this is hate straight up! Incredulously so!

    Report Post »  
    • Reason Trumps Religion
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:56am

      The point is that the way they were going about promoting their vbs was way too pushy, not that vbs is a bad thing.

      Report Post »  
    • binge_thinker
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:06pm

      People will complain about anything, even if the issue is one that would benefit a local community church.

      Some people don’t feel important unless they are complaining.

      Report Post » binge_thinker  
    • GimletD
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:05am

      @Reason

      Handing out fliers is not pushy.

      Report Post »  
  • Tax Revolt
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:44am

    If people can stand on a sidewalk corner blocking the path from street to sidewalk handing out flyers and cards with half naked to full naked women on it, advertising strip clubs and prostitutes, then these guys are absolutely in the right to be able to hand out their invites. So long as they were not standing on school grounds so be it.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:36am

    In School,I would see an issue.Outside of school,I do not see a problem.Seems the Hellbound see the first amendment as Free to Yell The “F” word in front of children,Free to print/report only what the left and George Soros wants to see/hear.Free to hate Jesus,and free to keep anyone else from practicing a religion. And Free to riot and defecate on police cars.They fail to see “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”. Meaning Government can not make you go to church,or donate to a church and especially the part that says “…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Freedom of religion does not mean freedom From seeing religion.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:47am

      You are correct and that is part of the problem. These so called leaders in DC are the ones that have determined that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” to mean separation of church and state. No where in the constitution does it say that. Any laws banning a religion, or forcing a religion in the public square are illegal and unconstitutional.

      Report Post »  
    • Reason Trumps Religion
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:58am

      You’re an idiot. No one is free to defecate on police cars. Try it and see what happens.

      Report Post »  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:11am

      @REASON

      Guess you missed the Occupy WallStreet thing where the defecated on police cars. No one was arrested.

      Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
  • nolefan2
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:36am

    For pete’s sake, if you don’t want the flyers, just say “no thank you,” and move on. That’s what I do when people are hanging out in front of stores I visit. If I want the material or want to donate, I do. If not, I say “no thank you,” and go my merry way. I have never felt intimidated. I must say that I’ve seen parents who shove their “little children” in your face to get donations. Are they using them because people hate to say no to a child?

    Report Post »  
    • Sunnyy
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:34pm

      Come on, pay your smile forward…if you truly felt threatened, then you could have explained to them with a smile…I bet they would have understood and changed their approach…things don’t always have to turn into an ugly news story.

      Report Post » Sunnyy  
  • OneTermPresident
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:33am

    Whats worse..? Gay parades with gays and lesbians scantily clad and acting deviant.. the New Black Panthers dressed in military clothing carrying clubs at the entrance of a voting place… or missionaries outside a school handing out fliers for a Summer Bible School?

    Report Post » OneTermPresident  
    • Smokey_Bojangles
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:43am

      You did not get the memo? Pride means shaking you “Junk” in front of children and showing Your Saggy boobs to children. Can‘t wait for the Next Veteran’s Day Parade. To show American Pride for Independence day George Washington is supposed to parade in a thong and covered in Vaseline.Betsy Ross will be going topless,have her underarm hair braided and be riding a Motorcycle with her “Momma” fat,hairy Girlfriend on the back.

      Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • princessnutsack
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:19am

      Clearly it’s vacation bible school fliers. That’s because acknowledging God exists is confirming there is divine moral code to and who wants to live by that when sin is so much more fun.

      Report Post » princessnutsack  
  • FoxholeAtheist
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:28am

    Me and a couple of my buddies are going to distribute Atheist fliers for a free-thought children’s camp outside of a Xtian school. Technically, we won‘t be on the property and there won’t be anything that you might call propaganda, just a simple invite to one of our summer camps to teach children rational thought and critical thinking skills. We aren’t going to force them to take anything from us, but we will stand together and shake the filers in their faces until they take one. Sure, we might block their paths, but that’s because we are so much larger than they are so it might be a little intimidating to not take what we are offering. We can’t help it, though. It’s a size difference. That’s okay though, right?

    Report Post » FoxholeAtheist  
    • beverlee
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:37am

      Kindling always welcomed. Thank you sir.

      Report Post » beverlee  
    • Steelheadisadouche
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:44am

      So if we draw a line through a black void, would that represent the anti-athiest crowd?

       
    • ScoobyCheese
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:49am

      FOXHOLE, My children go to a Christian school and I work with it. You are welcome to stand on public property and hand out anything you want, as long as it is not vulgar or obscene. Feel free to come do it in front of our school. People will probably offer you something to drink as it has been over 100 degrees lately. But, you will probably get handed some stuff, too, and get into some lengthy conversations as to what constitutes “truth.” We are nice people, but we are not shy.
      But, as far as I know, these people were not distributing anything that told everyone else they were wrong or stupid for what they believed. It just invited them to church. And I don’t believe anyone was blocking their path. I also don’t think they were dong it to prove a point. So, you might want to check your motives before you come. That is, if you at least want to be as good as the people you are trying to make out as some kind of bullies.

      Report Post »  
    • OneTermPresident
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:00am

      @FOXHOLEATHEIST… Don’t let anything but fear of your own beliefs hold you back. Talk is cheap.

      Report Post » OneTermPresident  
    • Reason Trumps Religion
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:05am

      FHA gets it right. If rational atheists passed out evolution pamphlets to kids coming out of private Christians schools, watch out!

      Report Post »  
    • ltemp
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:06am

      foxholeatheist,
      “teach children rational thought and critical thinking skills?” You don’t have to threaten American Christians, your agenda is already imbedded in every educational system in the US. Are you really trying to say that the atheist have no voice or political pull (LOL). You are as delusional in this argument as you are in truth of the existence of God. You are capable of explaining and rationalizing away God but, why do you have soooo much trouble explaining and rationalizing away death? Are you afraid these children might find hope? This is really what you’re greatest fear is. When they have hope they are not as controllable. Right?

      Report Post » ltemp  
    • thegreatcarnac
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:27am

      FOXHOLEATHEIST…….
      So brave. I laugh at you and your kind. Go to a mosque and hand out your crap. One day…Christians will have enough and we will be just as militant as muslims in defense of our faith.

      Report Post »  
    • NJBarFly
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:51pm

      Better yet, how about some pamphlets for the Church of Satan or Islam. We’ll see how fast the Christians get their panties in a bunch. While I agree that it’s legal, I think it is entirely inappropriate to proselytize to other peoples children.

      Report Post » NJBarFly  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:26am

    We, humans have a fatal tendency to try to adjust the truth to fit our desires rather than adjusting our desires to fit the truth. God is the only Truth.

    Christians are commanded to preach the Gospel – all of it to highlight our need for a Savior

    Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • theblazerunner
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:24am

    “Three white men from …”
    first dam time i have seen any news mention the race…

    still waiting for the bs news to report on the bIack mobs attacking whites.

    Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:49am

      That will never happen. Remember only whites can hate and only whites are oppressive racists.

      Report Post »  
    • EllaDenise
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:49pm

      I guess it was oppressive because it was white guys handing out to black children. What would that very same parent have said it they were handing out ONLY to white children or if it had been three African-american men.?

      Report Post »  
  • T-2
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:23am

    so 3 white kids handing out fliers invitation bible school are oppressive, but Black Panther thugs standing in front of voting building with night sticks aren’t…we’re screwed.

    Report Post »  
    • Damn_Lucky
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:32am

      Pretty much.

      Report Post » Damn_Lucky  
    • Unbelievable
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:40am

      Yep!!

      Report Post »  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:53am

      Just like yesterdays SCOTUS rulings. It is alright to lie about military honors (key word here LIE), but you do not have an inalienable right to LIFE (individual mandate is a tax on ones right to life).

      Report Post »  
    • T-2
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:13am

      i can see they’ll tax us per letter we type

      Report Post »  
  • 22AUTOMATIC
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:20am

    This is “oh so controversial.” Compare this with the video below showing atheists offering students free pornography if they trade in their Bibles. Granted it’s older students, but that is truly offensive not imaginary outrage.

    http://lockerz.com/d/14583018

    Report Post » 22AUTOMATIC  
  • Locked
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:15am

    Not wrong at all. Public area, not forcing kids to take pamphlets. The men didn’t get in trouble, and if the parents get offended, well, it’s not against the law to be offended.

    Only thing I’d be worried about as a parent was that three unknown grown men were hanging around outside a school and approaching children. That’s a bit sketchy, especially when they were inviting them to a “vacation camp.”

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:25am

      “it’s not against the law to be offended” I wish the rest of the country knew that. Every day some group or another is offended by something and we’re all supposed to care. I don’t.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:55am

      Gonzo, I actually tell people that I am offended that they are offended by something that I did. Hence the offensive street flows both ways, just like the racist street.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:15am

    Just go ahead and outlaw Christ American left, John Roberts will stand with you.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • hi
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:30am

      Read the article about the good things regarding Robers decision. He is a genius and sneaky fox.we will be thanking him when Romney wins and repeals Otax.

      Report Post » hi  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:20am

      @HI

      Sorry but I think you suffer from Stockholm syndrome. This was the end of freedom as we know it. Even if Romney wins and repeals it all, the power for Congress to tax us at will for NOT doing something still exists. John Roberts’ name should be regaurded with the same disdain as Benedict Arnold and Alger Hiss. Only a Constitutional Amendment can undo this, guess how often that happens…

      Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:07pm

      Wishful thinking HI, the man was more concerned with upholding the “reputation of the court” than upholding the Constitution. I’ve seen several pieces trying to spin him in to some kind of genius…he’s a coward.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Anti_Spock
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:14am

    Oppression begins with kind missionaries.

    Report Post » Anti_Spock  
  • hi
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:14am

    Don’t you dare touch our freedom of religion with your “I’m a victim” claims. I’m tired of fact that all liberals are offended or victims of something.

    Report Post » hi  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:57am

      You are right. All of us are victims in one way or another.

      Report Post »  
  • CougarNick78
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:12am

    4 voted yes….as if we need to guess their political or religious/areligious stance….. typical passive aggressives playing victim.

    Report Post » CougarNick78  
  • Lloyd Drako
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:11am

    Perfectly OK, so long as they weren’t on school property. But it would be interesting to know why they picked Park Slope. Maybe they just felt . . . safer there than, well, you know.

    Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • bikerr
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:20am

      @Lloyd Drako—–School property is public property.

      Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:52am

      Yes, exactly. The missionaries stood “at the public school’s front gate,” which I take to mean just off school property, which is public property. Therefore, no matter how “offensive” they may have been, they were doing nothing wrong or illegal. It seems they were invited to be there by a church in Park Slope, which would explain why that neighborhood rather than some sketchier one. Glad we’ve cleared this up!

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
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