Destroying fake Gods

[barneyjj]

Hi all,

I am not a believer or non believer in religion however I respect others beliefs. My son for the last year has become a Christian. A few months ago he destroyed all of my Buddha statues as he believed they were evil. My husband and I were very upset particularly with one that was given to us by my 90 year old mother.

Today I have just found our beautiful water feature destroyed. It was a type of Buddha and the only one left that was not destroyed previously.
I am so upset. I respect my sons beliefs however am upset that he does not respect my belongings or feelings about something that I own.

I feel so disappointed that his beliefs can bring on behaviour that will destroy someone elses property.

I would love your thoughts.

Barney

 

[Skwim]

Hi all,

I am not a believer or non believer in religion however I respect others beliefs. My son for the last year has become a Christian. A few months ago he destroyed all of my Buddha statues as he believed they were evil. My husband and I were very upset particularly with one that was given to us by my 90 year old mother.

Today I have just found our beautiful water feature destroyed. It was a type of Buddha and the only one left that was not destroyed previously.
I am so upset. I respect my sons beliefs however am upset that he does not respect my belongings or feelings about something that I own.

I feel so disappointed that his beliefs can bring on behaviour that will destroy someone elses property.

I would love your thoughts.

Barney

How old is your son, 9 or 10? If older he deserves major punishment. He has to know that bad behavior can have consequences. Act, and act now.

.

 

[barneyjj]

How old is your son, 9 or 10? If older he deserves major punishment. He has to know that bad behavior can have consequences. Act, and act now.

.

He is 19 years old. I understand his belief around this and why he did it. He believes that it negatively affects our family to have it in the household. I know he means well. He will be paying for the $500 statue.

 

[Skwim]

He is 19 years old. I understand his belief around this and why he did it. He believes that it negatively affects our family to have it in the household. I know he means well. He will be paying for the $500 statue.

As he should be paying for all the property he's destroyed or broken. You may accept that he had a reason for doing it, but it's hardly a rational one. People simply don't go around destroying the property of others because they believe it's evil or whatever. People respect the beliefs and property of others despite their personal feelings. It sounds like your son may be long over due professional counseling.

Oh yes, replace all the statues you can.

.

 

[YmirGF]

He is 19 years old. I understand his belief around this and why he did it. He believes that it negatively affects our family to have it in the household. I know he means well. He will be paying for the $500 statue.

He must be made to understand that ones beliefs do not give one the right to destroy the property of another. He is no different than the Taliban in Afghanistan destroying the centuries old Buddha statues. I'd demand he seek counseling for his aggressive behavior... maybe even contact whatever church he is going to and explaining what is going on to the minister/pastor. It is unlikely that any church would encourage this sort of behavior in its parishioners. If he is a solo Internet Christian... this could be problematic finding a suitable authority figure he could relate to.

Failure to comply would be grounds for ordering him to remove himself from your household.
Talk about biting the hand that literally feeds you. I feel for you.

The naughty part of me mumbled after I wrote this that his behavior gives you the right to destroy any Christian items in his room as they are having a very real, very negative effect on your household. You might get him to reflect on that nugget a bit and see how he would feel.

 

[Skwim]

The naughty part of me mumbled after I wrote this that his behavior gives you the right to destroy any Christian items in his room as they are having a very real, very negative effect on your household. You might get him to reflect on that nugget a bit and see how he would feel.

I had the very same thought; break or tear up his prized religious items to give him an idea of how it feels. But because it appears his problem may go deeper than his display of wrath toward Buddha statues, I think professional counseling is more in order.

.

 

[YmirGF]

I had the very same thought; break or tear up his prized religious items to give him an idea of how it feels. But because it appears his problem may go deeper than his display of wrath toward Buddha statues, I think professional counseling is more in order.

.

Yep. As much as part of me would love to do this, it would be better to take him to a counselor/psychiatrist.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

I know he means well.

If he's not respecting you as his parent and destroying your personal items, then clearly he does not mean well. I'd punish the crap out of him, but make it clear that it's not because of his beliefs but his actions.

 

[Sunstone]

A 19 year old who takes it upon himself to destroy other people's property -- whatever his motive -- is headed for a criminal career. Get your son into counseling.

 

[The Holy Bottom Burp]

Yes, disturbing behaviour, makes me think the fella needs a little counselling, but if something like this is totally out of character for him, take a closer look at the religious group he has joined. Are they a little weird and wacky? A little cultish? "Christian" is such a broad term, and without doubt there are some dangerous groups out there to avoid. If the group seem normal they may be able to help you resolve the situation.

 

[eldios]

Hi all,

I am not a believer or non believer in religion however I respect others beliefs. My son for the last year has become a Christian. A few months ago he destroyed all of my Buddha statues as he believed they were evil. My husband and I were very upset particularly with one that was given to us by my 90 year old mother.

Today I have just found our beautiful water feature destroyed. It was a type of Buddha and the only one left that was not destroyed previously.
I am so upset. I respect my sons beliefs however am upset that he does not respect my belongings or feelings about something that I own.

I feel so disappointed that his beliefs can bring on behaviour that will destroy someone elses property.

I would love your thoughts.

Barney

Sounds like he's been following the ideas of ISIS members who also destroy false gods built with human hands.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Hi all,

I am not a believer or non believer in religion however I respect others beliefs. My son for the last year has become a Christian. A few months ago he destroyed all of my Buddha statues as he believed they were evil. My husband and I were very upset particularly with one that was given to us by my 90 year old mother.

Today I have just found our beautiful water feature destroyed. It was a type of Buddha and the only one left that was not destroyed previously.
I am so upset. I respect my sons beliefs however am upset that he does not respect my belongings or feelings about something that I own.

I feel so disappointed that his beliefs can bring on behaviour that will destroy someone elses property.

I would love your thoughts.

Barney

In my opinion your son should be billed for every item he destroyed. If he refuses to pay then throw him out of your house. No matter what course you decide, it sounds like he could do with counselling which your son should possibly be made to pay for (at least in part) as an added incentive to not destroy other peoples' property.

Respecting beliefs is not wise if those beliefs encourage no respect for you or yours - respect the right to believe differently, yes. But not necessarily the belief itself. Iconoclasm is a belief that deserves no respect, ever. It's inherently destructive and encourages an intolerant mindset. Frankly, I find iconoclasm to be a belief of savages and barbarians.

 

[Aiviu]

Hi all,

I am not a believer or non believer in religion however I respect others beliefs. My son for the last year has become a Christian. A few months ago he destroyed all of my Buddha statues as he believed they were evil. My husband and I were very upset particularly with one that was given to us by my 90 year old mother.

Today I have just found our beautiful water feature destroyed. It was a type of Buddha and the only one left that was not destroyed previously.
I am so upset. I respect my sons beliefs however am upset that he does not respect my belongings or feelings about something that I own.

I feel so disappointed that his beliefs can bring on behaviour that will destroy someone elses property.

I would love your thoughts.

Barney

And still they are just things. We never own anything.

Any believe or conviction ought to make one following their heart to live in peace. Your son's belief doesnt make him do that. He turned out to be a fundamentalistic person who think he can influence why of lifes by destroying in what you believe. Dont bring up the respect for things. He knows that things dont have a value to be remembered in the heart. Sounds like he is into the belief of baptists who forbids any icons?

This is not violence against religion but against you. And they are many reasons which could pissed him off. I dont know. Maybe you could talk on a calm level. If nothing changes the situations and his behaviour. I would point him the door, and say to him that if he changes his mind about living with his religion in peace with you together, then he can return. Tell him, that he cant change what resides in your mind and heart.

Thats my thoughts.

 

[Vinayaka]

A 19 year old who takes it upon himself to destroy other people's property -- whatever his motive -- is headed for a criminal career. Get your son into counseling.

Call the cops.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Sounds like he's been following the ideas of ISIS members who also destroy false gods built with human hands.

Iconoclasm was an aspect of early (eastern) Christian practises long before Islam arose so technically he's following Christian ideals.

 

[SomeRandom]

Hi all,

I am not a believer or non believer in religion however I respect others beliefs. My son for the last year has become a Christian. A few months ago he destroyed all of my Buddha statues as he believed they were evil. My husband and I were very upset particularly with one that was given to us by my 90 year old mother.

Today I have just found our beautiful water feature destroyed. It was a type of Buddha and the only one left that was not destroyed previously.
I am so upset. I respect my sons beliefs however am upset that he does not respect my belongings or feelings about something that I own.

I feel so disappointed that his beliefs can bring on behaviour that will destroy someone elses property.

I would love your thoughts.

Barney

To be frank, your son should be taught a lesson in civility and basic human decency. A person does not destroy their parents' possessions, no matter their own opinions about said item. It's basic respect. And really, a Christian should know better than to disrespect their parents! Isn't that supposed to be one of the 10 freaking commandments? I'd be a tad concerned about the denomination he's in, honestly.
Get him to pay for the lot and perhaps get some counseling. Failing that, give him some money and tell him to find his own place. 19 you say? Old enough to know better than to be behave in such an appalling manner.

 

[DavidFirth]

Hi all,

I am not a believer or non believer in religion however I respect others beliefs. My son for the last year has become a Christian. A few months ago he destroyed all of my Buddha statues as he believed they were evil. My husband and I were very upset particularly with one that was given to us by my 90 year old mother.

Today I have just found our beautiful water feature destroyed. It was a type of Buddha and the only one left that was not destroyed previously.
I am so upset. I respect my sons beliefs however am upset that he does not respect my belongings or feelings about something that I own.

I feel so disappointed that his beliefs can bring on behaviour that will destroy someone elses property.

I would love your thoughts.

Barney

I understand what he did and can't help but agree with it. Idols corrupt people. Idols should be destroyed. I doubt I would have destroyed my parents' idols but God judges idolatry very harshly. You are better off without them.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

I understand what he did and can't help but agree with it. Idols corrupt people. Idols should be destroyed. I doubt I would have destroyed my parents' idols but God judges idolatry very harshly. You are better off without them.

Except these Buddha statues weren't being used in a religious context - the OP is not a Buddhist - therefore they are not idols. Why on earth are Gentiles so stridently insistent in forcing other Gentiles to follow the religious diktats of the Jewish god? It's perplexing.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I understand what he did and can't help but agree with it. Idols corrupt people. Idols should be destroyed. I doubt I would have destroyed my parents' idols but God judges idolatry very harshly. You are better off without them.

It's things like this that me lose sympathy when churches are burned down.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Unfortunately, he's just living up to what Christianity teaches since the early Christians did the same thing. Iconoclasm is a defining feature of the Abrahamic religions. Not that that makes it any less acceptable. Have a talk with him and give him an ultimatum. Throw him out if he doesn't come to respect your property and views.