Do you want any religious group texting your child?
It was a quick sharing of an article to Facebook on how Mormon missionaries will be using social media in their out reach efforts that started the conversation. I prefaced the news story with “First we had to worry about perverts targeting our children on the Internet, now it’s the Mormon Church.” That prompted a swift rebuke from a Facebook friend who thought I was wrong to equate Mormon Missionaries with pedophiles.
Comparing Mormons to perverts? Really? Now that’s a real tolerant view coming from one who would like to see more tolerance.
Mormon missionaries on Facebook?
I should have known some one would read too much into my analogy. My comparison was not to any perceived crime, but the way some people and groups troll social media hoping to strike up conversations with a hidden agenda. This isn’t limited to children. I have had my share of contacts with people “chatting me up” in hopes I would sign on to their multi-level marketing scheme or buy their products.
You have to deal with those people who think social media is just one big lead generation opportunity. But that is the adult world. Like I replied to my friend.
A predator is a predator. Some want your body, some want your money.
Children are off-limits…period!!!
As far as I’m concerned, children should be off limits to any religious proselytizing. As the back and forth comments continued with my friend, my resolve that children should be off limits grew with intensity.
Me: I feel the same way about radical Islamic groups as well. I’m not picking on the LDS Church per se, but we all know the tactics of how these groups groom young people into believing their message.
Friend: Want your money? are you aware of the fact that there is no paid ministry in the LDS Church? Who is getting all that money if no one is getting paid? Grooming young people into believing their message…Do you mean teaching them to be Grateful, honest, strive have a strong family, be a good friend, use clean language, get a good education, repent when you make mistakes, give service to others?
Me: I am cool with LDS, Jehovah Witness, Landmark Baptist, etc. I will groom my f*cking kid. I do not need some brain washed zealot 19 year old trolling the f*cking internet trying to preach to my kid. That’s my f*cking job. You are the one that wants government out of everyone’s business and for the most part I agree. But I also want these f*cking churches to get the hell out of my life. I don’t need their sh*t. I’ve read and do read the Bible and I can interpret it better than most of the f*cking *ssholes who knock on my door or pop up in Facebook. I don’t preach to them and I don’t want them preaching to my kid or anyone else’s kid.
A little over the edge?
Okay, so maybe I went off the deep end with my language. At that point I was at a loss on how to convey how deeply troubled I was becoming that some folks thought it was legitimate to groom my child about his or her religion without my consent as a parent. As brutal as the comments may have been, my friend pushed me further to really examine my almost knee jerk reaction to missionaries using social media
Friend: With all the garbage on the internet, you are concerned with Mormons sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Interesting.
Who really is behind the profile picture?
The truth finally bubbled up in my conscience, adults and children are mislead and radicalized by what they see on the internet. Sure, maybe the clean cut Mormon kid isn’t out to corrupt my child, but do I know the true intention of anyone who actively and consciously seeks to start conversations about their belief system.
Me: Are you concerned with radical Islam targeting teenagers? Many young men have been radicalized by Al Shabaab who target such teenagers http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab_(militant_group)
Several have left their homes in the U.S. to fight and die in Africa. We know the Boston Bombers picked up some of their radical ideas through social media sites.
The Westboro Baptist Church that protests at military funerals calling the fallen soldiers horrible names because they fight for America believes they are spreading the word of Jesus Christ.
There are many different sects in the LDS church. Which is the right one? The ones that promote polygamy? I don’t know.
But I really don’t want any religious zealot of any faith friending, tweeting, Snap Chatting, Instagramming or fill in the social media app. With children.
Christians aren’t too radical
My friend did make the salient comment that rarely are Christian groups the ones radicalizing people to become suicide bombers and commit acts of terror. What I was having a problem properly articulating is that from a parent’s perspective you want to protect your child as much as possible. There are also experiences that parents have had that can only be grasped if you live through the nightmare.
Me: The point is that kids are impressionable. If you were a parent whose child ran away to join some religious group you might have a different perspective.
Friend: My child has joined a cult that teaches them to follow the teachings of Christ, teaches them to be Grateful, honest, strive have a strong family, be a good friend, use clean language, get a good education, repent when you make mistakes, give service to others, My O my what could be worse?????
Those who agree with me are independent thinkers, those who disagree with me are brainwashed zealots. Facebook is full of people with that mindset, I never considered you to be one of those people until today.
Me: it’s not whether you agree with me or not. I could care less. Opposing views are good, that’s how I learn. But I am tired of these religious types trying to legislate their way into my life and I don’t think it is appropriate to use social media to recruit kids into a religion. On this topic I’m as militant as the NRA wanting to protect the second amendment. As a matter of fact, if I can’t kill the SOB that tries to touch or brain wash my kid with my bare hands, then I’ll use my firearm. I’ve gotten to the age where death doesn’t scare me. I can’t say that Christ wasn’t scared when he was lead to Golgotha, but I finally get his conviction to his principles. However, I would never go into the market place and yell, scream and trash the place like Jesus did. But if we’re using him as an example, I guess I would be in the right.
Friend: This thread has been very enlightening. I agree that religious and non-religious types should not legislate their way into anyone’s life. I am quite taken back by your admission that you would kill someone who proselytized your kid. Your view is very much in common those who live in Islamic countries, where it is culturally acceptable to do that very thing. One’s belief carries an importance insofar as it motivates one to action. I do not care about a person’s beliefs, I do care about how a person acts. I have often said I would rather my son or daughter be a good Jew, Catholic ,Baptist or any faith that you want to insert here, than a lousy Mormon. We will all judged by our actions not by our beliefs. This view has caused many spirited discussions with many of my non Mormon Christian friends who strongly believe that our actions will be of little consequence, so long as we believe in Jesus.
How far would you go to protect your child…and admit it?
Would I actually harm or kill another person that tried to unduly influence my child or hurt him. Yeah, I suppose I would. Through hours of introspection and contemplation I have come to realize that some people and countries only understand force. Unless there is an explicit threat of violence, some people will not give up. I hate that with all my heart, but I also understand it to be part of the human condition of some people.
My son was already in one accident that required surgery. The probability of the accident could have been greatly reduced if the perpetrator would have been the recipient of proper parenting skills. While I am obviously biased, my son’s future is too bright to have it derailed by some idiot on a bike, car, camping trip or internet chat session. Fortunately, my son is too astute to fall for some of the gratuitous comments to lure him into a bad situation. Not all children are old enough or mature enough to have that wisdom.
Pushed to learn, think, grow
Our little Facebook duel did not end on a sour note for me. My friend made some other comments that made me think about the big picture.
Friend: Some people put filters on their computers to block pornography. Maybe you could put a filter on your computer that would filter out Mormons/LDS/Latter-Day-Saints, etc. Some people would rather have their kids looking at porn all day than learning about Mormons.
Me: Interesting thought. Again I have nothing against the LDS church. Perhaps there should be a marker on certain profiles if the person will be engaging in religious promotion. That would allow certain people to be blocked. It might be a requirement of people who have been convicted of a sex crime. If you can’t live within 2000′ of a school or park, maybe you shouldn’t be allowed on social media?
FFF: Facebook Friends Forever
I know my Facebook friend to be an honest and forthright person. I would much rather interact with someone like him than people that continually have that happy ingratiating tone for fear of alienating someone with an actual statement of conviction. And that’s why I like social media. Facebook friends push me to look at the opposing view and call me out when I am acting like a dolt.
Our true friends are those who accurately mirror our public image back to us. If you confine yourself to a sanctuary of mirrors that never show your graying hair and wrinkles, you will get a skewed perspective of yourself. I am lucky to have Facebook friends that will be honest about their beliefs and call mine into question.
