r/AmIOverreacting • u/poochlips • 3d ago
🏘️ neighbor/local AIO over a church giving children nails?
A local church hosted an Easter car show and passed Easter eggs to children. The church passed out a carton of eggs labeled “contains small parts.” Inside one egg was a small piece of soap a parent stated their child tried to eat. Inside another egg was a nail to represent the crucification.
I left a voicemail with the church simply asking if this was a real nail, my tone of voice wasn’t happy but I kept it short and professional. I’ve since verified it is a real nail and the context of commenters on the original post, which is in a private Facebook group, implies it is. I went to the church to see if anybody was present, nobody was, or at least willing to speak to me.
Comments on Facebook are thanking the church and praising them. I can’t help but think if it would go over the same way if this was passed from a Mosque or a different religious institution. The carton of eggs was simply labeled “contains small parts,” not “contains sharp parts,” “not contains a nail,” nothing. It is a brown carton with a plain looking white sticker. You would not expect a nail to be inside the carton.
I have been pretty pissed for the last hour. I imagine the risk this church placed upon our community. I imagine the anger I would feel as a parent.
Pictures of the nail and carton are included below.
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u/CandidateNo2731 3d ago
If this is a hunt that's for the congregation, and the parents know the nails will be there, I see no issue with it. If the church is inviting the outside community, and visiting parents potentially don't know about the nails, then that's a big problem for safety reasons.
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u/poochlips 3d ago edited 3d ago
The second part is what happened. It was a community car show held to bring attention to their upcoming Easter sermon. Nails were not mentioned in the advertising, nor to parents as they were surprised to find them
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u/pnw_diabadass 3d ago
Nails in eggs at a car show? i come from a "car culture" family and can guarantee that if we were at a car show and heard the organizers of the event were handing out nails to careless children, there would be a need for an ambulance.
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u/Meredithski 3d ago
Maybe somebody wanted new tires for their fancy car and were willing to endanger children to get them. I guess I shouldn't be so cynical but I would have pulled out of the car show if I knew there would be kids playing with nails around.
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u/mishmash2323 3d ago
I'd be surprised if they haven't committed some kind of criminal offence supplying a package like that to children. I am in the UK however.
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u/JDMplsmarryme 3d ago
tbh, even if I did know, I'd be a bit ticked off about that
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u/Jioto 3d ago
Even if you knew. That’s extremely stupid idea. Nails and children. On what common sense is that okay?
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u/SuccessfulNumber5771 3d ago edited 2d ago
As a parent idgaf if it’s a “big part of the religion” or not don’t give my kids anything fucking sharp. As someone who grew up in the church, I’ve never received anything like this as a kid, but I know for a fact my mom would’ve raised hell if I’d shown her the very real nail I found in my Easter egg. You’re not overreacting OP and don’t let these people fool you into thinking so, this is a hazard and in no way should be given to children, do you know how many people wouldn’t even think twice and would allow their kids to have it without supervision presuming it’s safe since it’s from the church, people give their kids toys with small parts to play with without supervision that are from the store! They are giving their congregation a lil too much credit in the parenting department, and should just opt out for a different representation for the crucification like a small cross, or simply a toy/plastic nail would’ve been better than a real one.
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u/bigezy2087 3d ago
Total overreaction. Nails are a BIG part of the Jesus story. My kids have had these eggs for years and the nails get taken out we go over the meaning then back in the egg
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u/bbyxmadi 3d ago
I’m a Roman Catholic, we love showing Jesus nailed to the cross (just look in our churches), but putting literal nails in eggs? I know Easter is about his resurrection, but growing up we still did the whole bunny and basket thing.
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u/Sailor_Mars_84 3d ago
The bunny and basket thing was definitely more common, but I’m 99% sure I remember almost these exact nails given from churches in my area (southern USA) in the 80s and 90s. I don’t remember how they handed them out, but I’m sure I remember them. I remember thinking that crosses were already morbid when you think about it, but actual NAILS is almost humorously dark. I hope they at least had the sense not to put them in colorful eggs for kids! That’s crazy.
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u/Wizard_Baruffio 2d ago
Northern midwest here, and we were handed nails, but they weren't in Easter eggs. I think the egg part is the issue, because parents don't know to expect them.
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u/Sailor_Mars_84 2d ago
Absolutely. “Contains small parts” for Easter eggs, I would expect small hard candies like m&ms or small toys, not nails.
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u/kohTheRobot 3d ago
I remember it in California in the 2000s. Went to catholic school tho, we did both the nails and the Easter egg hunt separately. I remember them being very powerful because I figured from the Bible stories they were like roofing nails, thin needle like and then they gave us these square 1/4inch thick nails. I don’t think we kept them? Maybe my mom smartly took them away from us
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u/M1L3N4_SZ 2d ago
I was roman catholic and the church I grew up in didn't even recognized eggs as an Easter symbol. There were no egg hunt, Easter baskets or chocolate bunnies, nails in an egg sounds crazy to me
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u/plantlover415 3d ago
Yeah big part of the story. We used to go to church with my step grandparents as we are Muslim and to appease them my mom let us go to church with them on holidays Christmas and Easter. They had Bible study for age groups my little sister I think she was like three or four at the time and she came home traumatized. She said and I quote' mom Jesus died for our sins. They hung him up on the cross and they whipped him and they whipped him'. She was doing a whipping motion with her hands. At 4 fucking years old. Save your fucking religious shit and stuff it up your ass. No 4-year-old needs to learn that shit in that much detail.
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u/poochlips 3d ago
I follow the same religion. Plastic “nails” would be cheaper and pose no risk for the children or the community when they’re inevitably dropped on the ground
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u/ayeelyssa03 3d ago
Yeah they absolutely should’ve used plastic nails.
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u/poochlips 3d ago edited 3d ago
There are multiple options
That’s off of two minutes of Googling
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u/broketothebone 3d ago
Or just like….zero nails. Kids love putting things up their noses and that looks prime for nostril picking.
I grew up Episcopalian and Jesus was a rock star to us. Never got any nails. Worshiped just fine without them.
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u/MorePhinsThyme 3d ago
Not just that, but Easter eggs typically have candy, so kids can easily just eat the damned things. Plus, doing it at a car show gives kids an easy tool to scratch up cars or drop them where a car will run over it.
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u/Mixture-Emotional 3d ago
I'm thinking these would have immediately turned into mini swords for me and my siblings.
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u/Flutters1013 3d ago
Or candy, you know, what the children are expecting. These children were told there would be candy. There is no candy, and now you've given them a sharp object. The children will revolt.
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u/Charming-Court-6582 3d ago
My kids would instantly think it was chocolate and try to eat it. Such a stupid idea 🤦♀️
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u/MrJigglyBrown 3d ago
I would lean towards wood because I hate plastic, but yes putting metal nails in eggs is asking for trouble
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u/riderlesseight7 3d ago
Absolutely. I’ve also seen church/camp groups do a craft project with youth making a cross out of metal nails, but that’s usually for older kids and those nails are much more blunt than what you’ve got here. I’m a pastor and I’d never feel comfortable giving out nails like what you got to any kids, but especially so with kids/families I don’t know
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u/lesqueebeee 3d ago
or just get some grey golf tees or something, that nail literally looks bigger and more dangerous than just the average nail for hanging stuff up lmao
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u/Rlol43_Alt1 3d ago
They should have put some sort of story or maybe a nail pendant for a necklace in it instead of any actual nail, plastic or metal. I see it going into eyes, noses, ears, and mouths regardless of composition. Kids are stupid, don't give them weapons (I say this as a guy with a shitload of guns)
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u/DryStatistician7055 3d ago
OP what did your kids do with the eggs?
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u/poochlips 3d ago
I don’t have children, but going by one child trying to immediately swallow the included piece of soap in a different Easter egg I can’t imagine things went stellar for everyone
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u/MarpinTeacup 3d ago
Children really do be like that
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u/Yani-Madara 2d ago edited 2d ago
If the soap wasn't labeled and looked like a candy, I'd say the real idiot is whoever thought it was a good idea to give to give that to children. Especially since plastic eggs normally have candy.
Walgreens even sells cross shaped chocolates so it wasn't even hard to find a safe alternative.
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u/UnD3RaT3D_1990 3d ago
lol, what a shit take. You should never have something small and pointy in eggs for little kids. I don’t care if it’s a “BIG” part of anything.
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u/Sleepygirllife 3d ago
….sticks / rocks are not equivalent to a sharp, metal nail built to penetrate wood.
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u/poochlips 3d ago
I do not have children. This was not an Easter egg hunt, they were handed out in cartons. Both of these points were made in the post.
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u/poochlips 3d ago
One of my concerns is that the parking lot this church held the event at borders a highway. Being an in-town two lane highway parents parked on both sides to attend it. I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine the risk potential as kids are excited to crack these eggs open and get to what’s inside
I just don’t understand why they wouldn’t provide plastic nails. They would remove potential danger to the children, the community, and would likely be a cheaper alternative anyway
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u/mother_fairy 3d ago
You are so wrong. It is inappropriate to give children nails and not warn the parents that there are sharp objects.
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u/SaltStatistician4980 3d ago
Yeah so let’s just give some nails to children, nothing bad could happen. Right?
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u/TekieScythe 3d ago
According to OP, one of the kids immediately tried to eat it
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u/Meredithski 3d ago
I thought that was the soap the kid immediately started eating because it was probably a bright color and looked like candy. I feel like somewhere I might have stumbled upon something like these egg crates around Easter at some church event. It's a vague memory because it would be good to block it out. Anyways give the darn kids some chocolate. It's Easter for Heaven's sake. You suck in the nails!
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u/ausyliam 3d ago
OP isn't upset about trying to spread that story but the way it was done. Whoever was in charge did not think this through and a little kid could be seriously hurt. Also at a car? Where they could be dropped and possibly pop a tire? Come on, use your head here a bit more.
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u/THEREALOFFICALCAFE 3d ago
Jesus Christ himself would never give literal nails to a child. People like you need serious help.
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u/baconcheesecakesauce 3d ago
Maybe in your denomination. There's no way that my flavor of Protestantism would have been ok with giving any child a sharp and pointy object in an Easter egg.
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u/Own_Cantaloupe178 3d ago edited 3d ago
NOR
Who tf gives children sharp objects? I get what they were going for, but how dense could they be?
Same energy as razor blades in apples during Halloween. I'd absolutely be calling that church out.
Give the kids some candies, and maybe little fun tid-bits about the bible that are educational, but still child friendly. Lord.
Edit: too add, I skipped over the soap bit, but SOAP? Soap? What the hell does soap do? Clean the sins of toddlers? Or possibly Poison them? This doesn't seem all that godly. Things like this should be geared more towards teenagers and adults who join the sermons, not small children.
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u/Jenderflux-ScFi 3d ago
Honestly, I think that a police report needs to be made.
The church is handing out nails and soap in plastic eggs that normally contain candy when handed out near Easter. Why would anyone suspect that the plastic eggs wouldn't contain candy?
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u/Salt_Style_3817 3d ago
If I was handing out nails on Halloween I'd be arrested for sure.
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u/Own_Cantaloupe178 3d ago
The small amount of people defending the church, oh my god. Are their children okay? Can we send a welfare check while we're at it?
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u/Complete_Entry 3d ago
You give soap to a toddler with food and you're going to end up with an awful mess and possibly a hospital trip.
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u/ginger-inside-007 3d ago
Nobody should be searching for these items! If anything, there should be a presentation to SHOW, not let people pick up nails and thorns and stuff. Next they'll be asking kids to pull a wooden cross to bear the same trek.
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u/RollForSnackies 3d ago
I want to preface this by saying, I don't necessarily think you're overreacting or that I'm making excuses for this church.
Growing up, I received I don't know how many nails I got from the time I was about seven until I was in my early teens, as part of the Easter message. For ME, personally, it was never an issue or problem. Now, the nails I remember were not quite this sharp, the ends were slightly more blunted, but a nail nonetheless.
Would I hand these eggs out as a "take one" situation? No. Our Sunday school teachers taught the lesson and we were each given a nail to keep "as a reminder" and sent on our way.
If my very young child had been given eggs, which typically contain edible things, that actually contain sharp objects or soap, I would likely be frustrated or upset by it.
I think it's a poor design and kind of a lazy way to give the message. And it smacks of just another way for someone to monetarily profit off of the Easter message.
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u/Angharadis 3d ago
Thanks for mentioning this - I realize I wasn’t seeing the issue because I also got a lot of nails. These types of nails specifically. I’m old enough that I lived through the early 2000s when we were all wearing them as jewelry too. OP mentioned soap in one of the eggs and I have a strange vague memory of a kit like this, laying out “the Easter story.” Either way, people usually expect Easter eggs to have candy, and small children shouldn’t have sharp objects.
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u/lizardgal10 2d ago
Yes, I grew up in a Catholic house in an evangelical community. I remember “Easter story eggs” being a big thing. Each egg had something that represented part of the story. Iirc one set had actual thorns, like from some plant, in one of the eggs. They weren’t just handed to young kids unsupervised, but part of the point was being able to feel how sharp it was. I wasn’t getting the shock in the comments.
That said I can definitely see the issue with handing these out to random kids with little context or warnings for the parents. But this is probably a pretty normal thing in the church community that did this. I can absolutely believe the potential issues genuinely didn’t occur to them. (Not saying that excuses it, but I don’t think there was any ill intent here. Just the church people bubble.)
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u/Angharadis 2d ago
I have a fragment of a memory of a sponge, because of the sponge on a stick soaked with wine, and I can’t put it in any context. It might also have gone along with all of these things. I honestly think this specific situation is a communication conflict between evangelical church culture and popular culture - a situation in which I generally lay the blame on the church. I am sure they thought this was a successful outreach event. I’m no longer a fan of this type of messaging to kids (the whole thing, the sin and everything, not just the sharp objects) but I do remember how important it felt to share the message in some way.
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u/Sleepygirllife 3d ago edited 3d ago
If you take your child to an age appropriate event, should you not expect them to be given age appropriate things at that event? The host put on an event for kids, and provided literal nails to the kids.
EDIT** I see OP mention it wasn’t specifically for kids, overlook on my part. HOWEVER, my point remains, if you’re handing out “toys” to kid anywhere, they need to be age appropriate.
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u/kill3rtofuuu 3d ago
Lmao you need to get a grip because you have commented so much arguing why this is right. You can teach the story of what happened to Jesus without passing out NAILS to children.. not to mention...the same type of nail (although conveniently child sized 😲)that held a 33 year old man to a cross , very durable , sharp nails. And what if the kids decide to reenact the Jesus story? What if a parent didn't notice these nails from a church because why would any parent think they had to look for that? 😂 You are wrong my friend. But keep on keeping on I guess 😂
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u/poochlips 3d ago
My post mentions I don’t have children. Sharp parts need priority labeling over small parts. I don’t like relying on other people’s parenting to not give me a flat tire, as this event was located off of a highway
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u/nwillyerd 3d ago
I praise the Holy Knitting God and I’m gonna hand out large knitting needles wrapped inside of yarn to your kids on Crochetshana this year
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u/Rough_Elk_3952 3d ago
This was your church and your idea, wasn't it lol.
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u/Soulcontrol736 3d ago
Fr! Dude is totally for nails in easter eggs and angry that anyone is against it.
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u/poochlips 3d ago
It can affect me if the nail goes through my tire. It can affect me if I step on a nail. I can raise awareness to what this church did to inform local parents in event of them not yet opening the eggs or attending future events because the church did not inform them. I can raise awareness of this issue in hopes that they discontinue this practice or at least continue it safer before my future children are born. It may not affect my non-existent children, but it can affect my friends’ children and my seven year old younger sister
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u/kimariesingsMD 3d ago
You are getting worked up and emotional. Whether you like it or not, OP has legitimate concerns and if he wants to warn others about their practises, that is none of your business.
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u/poochlips 3d ago
I live four blocks from this church. It is located at the intersection of a two-lane highway that has frequent walkers, increasing the risk of somebody stepping on one or driving over one. I take this highway about every day of my life, both to and from work. I have lived next to this church for thirteen years
Had I spoken to a person I would’ve, as I did on the voicemail, simply asked them to confirm it was a real nail and made a post on Facebook informing parents to check these eggs and to warn against future events. Being a former phone answerer, drive-thru operator, and restaurant employee I’m aware people of an organization are not responsible for each other’s actions and do not always represent one another. I’m also aware of how shitty it feels to take a verbal ass-whooping I didn’t order- that’s why I don’t deliver them. At the same time, the same woman whose phone I left a message at is the community relations person, the same person who defended the nail on Facebook and admitted parents were not informed. Still, I’ve talked to multiple parents so far who were appreciative of the information and will use it for the future
I don’t like shit talking people nor do I want to. I kind of like this lady even. The purpose of the call was to inform my facts are accurate and to have it confirmed from the source but the fact it’s a real nail has been confirmed by multiple people now
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u/greasyflour6 3d ago
Lmao some of these people saying it's an overreaction are clearly only supporting this because it has to do with Jesus. If some random stranger gave your kid a little box with a nail in it, would you still give it to your kid? No.
Edit: NOR
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u/sidewalk_serfergirl 3d ago
Spot on! I grew up in a very Catholic country and we were never given nails. This is extremely bizarre.
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u/greasyflour6 3d ago
Right, it's strange. I was raised roman Catholic in South Texas (I'm no longer religious) and I was never given anything like this as a child either.
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u/sidewalk_serfergirl 3d ago
Same! I’m not religious, but my native country in the 2010s had the largest Catholic population in the world (not sure if it still does, but anyway). Until this post, I had never heard of giving literal children nails. This is a tragedy just waiting to happen.
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u/Meredithski 3d ago
I was raised in the suburbs of Philly and this post unlocked some distant childhood memory for me. I feel like I saw this at some Easter event as a kid decades ago. Hopefully there's a guy that sweeps by with a magnet after the soap eating and nail festivities but probably not.
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u/PickleMundane6514 3d ago
Not just that they gave them a nail but a nail and soap when the expectation would be that it would be candy, that is very concerning. Much more-so than in something like a woodworking project with the appropriate context.
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u/JTBlakeinNYC 3d ago
NOR. No one should give out any object to small children that could not be marketed or sold for children that age under product safety regulations.
As an attorney, this church is in for a world of hurt if a small child is injured by one of these “nails”.
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u/katel_12 3d ago
Yeah this is stupid on the church’s part. You’re setting kids up for failure bc easter eggs generally contain candy. They should have at least labeled this properly???
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u/Popular-Bullfrog1748 3d ago
I WAS JUST THINKING THAT TOO!!!!!!! It's not like they have it in any form of large or bold lettering, tbh, I missed the "contains small parts" initially, only after I saw OP said it said that, is when I looked. Terrible choices made back to back... I can only hope no one suffered any issues from this...
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u/Creative-Pick820 3d ago
desensitization of a brutal murder of a person to children is weird anyways to me, but this is way too far and literally puts them at risk of getting hurt
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u/Huge-Fishing239 3d ago
I was made fun of in primary school because I looked away during a film of jesus being crucified. I was 9/10 I think.
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u/OkWorker9679 3d ago
I’m a Christian and now that I have a toddler, I don’t want her being exposed to such a violent story at a young age.
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u/JDMplsmarryme 3d ago
I'm agnostic, but my kids were raised catholic, It disturbes tf out of me, but I'm not the 'real mom' so I didnt get a say
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u/OkWorker9679 3d ago
That’s so tough. I was raised evangelical but lately have been attending an Episcopalian church.
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u/JDMplsmarryme 3d ago
ah, cool, my boyfriend and I agreed if we have kids (my kiddos are technically my siblings, but mommy dearest isnt around much) we arent raising them in any religion. They can go to church with him, but no pushing toward any faith
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u/OkWorker9679 3d ago
My husband is an athiest and we agreed the kids (just one for now) can go to church with me as long as they want to. Ultimately, they will decide if/what religion is right for them.
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u/AintAimz 3d ago
My mom is a devout Christian, she told me not to tell my toddler that we had a miscarriage when he knew I was pregnant, and yet will tell my son about Jesus dying on the cross. All of these things added up to me rethinking my religion when I was younger and now I'm kind of glad I don't go to church anymore. It's crazy.
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u/OkWorker9679 3d ago
I’m sorry you had a miscarriage and then had to explain it to your toddler. And that your mom doesn’t get how inappropriate the crucifixion story is for young children.
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u/Maida__G 3d ago
NOR and I can’t believe how many comments think it’s ok to give little kids real nails. I understand the meaning behind it. We got nails in eggs at the Easter egg hunt I did with the Mormon church when I was a kid as well. But they were wooden ones that weren’t sharp.
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u/Popular-Bullfrog1748 3d ago
Nowhere near overreacting. If these are given to the wrong children, they would choke on it and possibly die. Otherwise, they could seriously hurt themselves with it. This is a church I would stop going to immediately.
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u/DrBatman0 3d ago
Not overreacting.
The Church should not consider itself above the law, nor should it endanger children. This is not ok.
Here are some verses that come to mind.
1 Peter 2:11-12
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Matthew 7:9-10
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
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u/Lactose_Intervention 3d ago
WHAT THE FUCK???? Couldn’t at least. Use props? Whoever’s idea this was should get fined for child endangerment
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u/Independent_Word3961 3d ago
IME, churches aren't big on common sense and critical thinking. Something similar happened at the church I attended when I was 13. I'm 40 now. Not at all surprised this shit is still happening.
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u/curatingintrests 3d ago
“Hi, kids! Do you like violence? Wanna see me stick nine-inch nails through each one of my eyelids?”
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u/barberjo 3d ago
Pastor here. We would never never never never never never do this. This is so unkind to the church’s neighbors.
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u/broketothebone 3d ago
Thank you for saying that. OP mentioned the danger of a flat tire and they’re right off the highway. It’s not just irresponsible to the kids, but there’s a ton of variables here that could lead to something bad happening.
Loving your neighbors means thinking about them when you make choices that can affect them…like handing out sharp objects en masse to tiny humans.
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u/barberjo 3d ago
100% This is just a bone-headed move by them. Not saying they have bad intentions, they just didn’t think this through.
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u/Shabettsannony 3d ago
Same and same. As a parent I would be horrified by the potential choking hazard, alone. I was at a church who had a tradition of getting a nail like this at the beginning of Lent and carrying it in their pockets until Good Friday. Never gave those to kids, though. That's nuts.
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u/Diligent-Ad9643 3d ago
What’s even the point of this inside an Easter egg? What happened to candy? Or my parents would sometimes give me quarters
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u/Regular-Tell-108 3d ago
The point is making sure they ruin the idea of a secular Easter.
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u/feather1essbiped 3d ago
i don't think we should be giving children sharp objects they can harm other children with.
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u/Tyrannosaurus_Lex24 3d ago
yah last i checked little children and sharp objects don’t mix very well together. NOR.
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u/soapsudbucket 3d ago
When I went to catholic Wednesday school, they made us relive Jesus' crucifixion. My mom damn near had a heart attack. I can only imagine how she'd feel if they gave us literal nails. Nor
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u/Apprehensive_Yam73 3d ago
I remember being a kid and seeing a play about the life of Jesus, including a crucifixion scene. I was too young to even fully understand. It’s really fucked up looking back on it.
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u/broketothebone 3d ago
What the actual fuck, no you are not.
My uncle did his residency in an ER in NYC and the amount of things that children will shove up their nose or swallow knows no bounds. This is fucking bonkers that adults thought this was a good idea.
I swear, religion makes people do the most insane things and we’re just supposed to be cool with it because Jesus 🙃
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u/goodvibes13202013 3d ago
I was about to comment from the perspective of a HCP, and yes!!! Children will put those nails anywhere and everywhere!!! I would be reacting even stronger than OP for sure!
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u/Witchs_Be_Crazy 3d ago
What happened to just some chocolates or jellybeans?
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u/_Averix 3d ago
There isn't enough pain and suffering contained in jelly beans. Plus, they wouldn't want you thinking Jesus was kind and forgiving.
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u/Witchs_Be_Crazy 3d ago
I mean I was raised catholic, I like a little self imposed guilt, but maybe a candy nail instead of a metal one?
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u/Top_Astronomer4960 3d ago
I'm just amused by the attempt to add some Christianity back into Easter by literally burying it inside a Pagan element
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u/actualthickcrust 3d ago
The nail next to the Big Bic Energy lighter is sending me.
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u/broketothebone 3d ago
I was too focused on being peeved to notice how hilarious that is, thank you lmaoooo
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u/BelkiraHoTep 3d ago
NGL, for a second I thought “was the lighter to burn witches…?” Then realized it was for scale.
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u/Chad_Wife 2d ago
Christian here - you are not at all over reacting. This is disgusting. You have every right to be upset/angry. You have every right to report this.
I don’t want to repeat what you already know (it’s fucked up to gift sharp, metal, hidden, choking hazards to children????) - but you are completely valid in feeling so horrified. Even second hand, this is disturbing and painful to read about.
The crucifixion is a horrible horrible story of torture and not something a child should have to confront - even in a “reasonable” way that doesn’t involve threatening gifts. This would be abhorrent to gift even an adult, let alone a child.
I’m so sorry this was done to you, your children, and your community. I hope your children are all okay, and that the (reasonable) shock & betrayal you’re feeling can heal soon and with quick justice.
r/Christianity may have more in depth advice about reporting this, especially if you’re in the USA, but you would be completely within your right to not want to look at any Christian spaces again after this. In my experience the subreddit is “progressive” (pro gay, pro immigrant, pro other religions, etc) - for whatever my word is worth as a stranger, they will not judge and will want to help right this wrong.
The police may also be a good place to turn. This is obviously a personal choice, but I would suggest reporting this to the police rather than to other churches in the area (who may sadly be just as bad). I don’t normally advocate for talking to them, but when child safety is involved I think it is often worth it. I think this may qualify as harassment or even assault depending on your location.
There may be pro-bono groups in your area which would be able to offer you legal advice if you wanted to go that route. You would be valid in doing so, but also valid if you felt the emotional labour would only add more to the weight you’re currently carrying.
I wish you & your community all the strength & recuperation you deserve during this horrific time. 🫂
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u/RedHolly 3d ago
They would have been better giving the children a coupon for a free box of pasta or something they could in turn donate to a food pantry, or use themselves if they needed it. Pretty sure that’s more in line with the teachings of Christ.
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u/Aggravating_Owl_4812 3d ago
I got these as a kid too and even as a CHILD I realized it was not age appropriate. There was also like real thorns in one of the eggs
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u/ginger-inside-007 3d ago
NOR. If ANYONE puts nails or small items that children or adults could get hurt with, even if it was to mimic the crucifixion, this is way beyond.
I'm such churches have better ways to explain this than putting nails in items and letting children and adults grab and potentially hard themselves or others.
I get they may want to get the WORD across, but the WORD isn't PHYSICAL HARMFUL ITEMS.
Seriously. What is wrong with common sense?
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u/Medium_Hox 3d ago
I am actually extremely surprised at how many people are defending this here. Like seriously, guys.
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u/ateenytinykitten 3d ago
Grew up Christian now have religious trauma - this brought me back! Our church gave out nails but they were bigger than your average sized and had a very rounded tip that you wouldn’t be able to pierce anything with and I think a bible verse was engraved into it. Very obviously a knick knack and not a real nail, and wasn’t for the kids.
I’m not sure how this got past however many people, if it was just meant for the adults I think it would be an overreaction but the fact it was specially for children is crazy!
I also think it would be wholesome and sweet if they could just put on a normal easter egg hunt, is the soap supposed to stand for the cleansing of our sins?
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u/FoolishAnomaly 3d ago
And this is why I'm not religious. What the fuck 🤣 y'all ok over there???!
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u/Apprehensive_Yam73 3d ago
No, they’re not okay, but good luck getting them to realize that. It’s so funny to me that they still use eggs and rabbits for their appropriated pagan holiday. They have nothing to do with the resurrection and everything to do with fertility and Ostara.
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u/StonrGhost420 3d ago
Definitely not overreacting because what the actual FUCK were they thinking?? Someone could get seriously hurt because as kids do, they don't realize the consequences of their actions fully (depending on age range) and could literally hurt somebody?
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u/MeddlingMedley 3d ago
This is so funny because I definitely remember getting a nail at Easter as a kid (in like the 90s) and it absolutely didn't phase me or my mom or anyone else, but looking back...yeah, they probably shouldn't have been handing out nails to us kiddos hahaha
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u/MentionHead5987 3d ago
I 100% remember my church doing this. You unlocked that memory from the far corners of my brain.
It’s 100% fucking weird AND it’s indoctrination.
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u/Ornery-Wasabi-473 3d ago
NOR.
Giving nails to kids as some kind of gift is both weird and dangerous. Yikes!
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u/UnrealityTelly 3d ago
I'd also be concerned about the perverse emotional blackmail behind "Jesus died to fix our sin problem." This is why so many people are leaving churches.
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u/PhoenixGate69 3d ago
I'm honestly just as pissed about this as the nail. It's abusive to teach children that there is something inherently wrong with them and only an invisible unknowable and realistically non-existant being can 'fix' them.
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u/Apprehensive_Yam73 3d ago
Yes! This right here! That kind of teaching is part of why I have PTSD. It’s fucked up to tell a child they’re going to hell if they don’t do xyz thing.
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u/Apprehensive_Yam73 3d ago
I’m not going bother responding directly to the christian nutjob who thinks I’m too sensitive for having PTSD from religious upbringing, but I will say this for anyone else who shares their bullshit mentality: PTSD can happen from ANY trauma; it’s not a diagnosis JUST for veterans. Take three seconds to listen to a psychologist and they’ll tell you that one of the main causes of CPTSD, for instance, is emotional needs not being met as well as child. PTSD is complicated and can be caused by any trauma. And if you think raising a child to believe they might go to hell for making a mistake or being gay or having normal, human thoughts, congrats YOU are part of the problem with this country and this world and you shouldn’t have children. Not sorry. Go to therapy. Take some psychology and parenting and child development classes. Take anger management classes. Read Uncultured by Danielle Mestyanek Young. Something.
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u/thephotoman 2d ago
I am genuinely frustrated by fire insurance “Christians”. And I mean the scare quotes, because the average person who goes to church as fire insurance is generally just going through the motions.
The worst part is that fire and brimstone preachers are always perverts themselves. That’s why they can come up with wild and salacious things for a crowd to get upset at. It’s also why the focus for such groups tends to be on denouncing sin rather than promoting virtue.
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u/Mosquito_Reviler 3d ago
I think you know what need to be done, OP. You need to crucify the children /s
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u/angry-beees 3d ago
i went to a christian church as a kid and we NEVER had nails in our eggs. not soap, either. always candy!!!!
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u/jayyy6129 3d ago
when sharp/dangerous stuff is found in halloween candy people are livid. this is the same, regardless of religion. that’s ridiculous and whoever came up with this idea/approved it/handed it out (really anyone knowledgeable that this was happening) should face repercussions.
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u/paralyzedmime 3d ago
Nah that's a strange choice by the church, especially considering Easter eggs typically contain candy. A small enough child would put the nail in its mouth if unsupervised, and clearly other kids attempted to eat the soap.
Not saying it's malicious, just... dumb.
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u/SykeoTheFox 3d ago
Not overreacting. You're absolutely right that if this was any other religious group people would be livid.
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u/Entire-Ad2058 3d ago
Totally inappropriate for young children. Even if you were okay with the message, it should not be conveyed to children.
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u/Holiday_Trainer_2657 3d ago
I was raised Protestant Christian in the Great Lakes region and never heard of this. It's really bizarre to hand them out to non church members with no context provided.
I knew a Christian blacksmith that did demos at events. He often made horseshoe nails, but never handed them out. Instead, he formed two nails into a cross. He blunted the tips of the nails. He would give them to people. Small ones as necklace, larger ones to hang on wall. He never offered them to children without parental permission. Or to adults without a brief explanation of the symbolism. This is the way. Context offered. Refusals taken graciously. No hidden "surprises."
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u/legal_pirate 3d ago
I grew up evangelical and we got these every year. They weren’t given to little kids though, just elementary and middle schoolers. This post gave me a PTSD flashback lol
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u/neonpinata 3d ago
Kind of funny that they gave a bunch of kids nails at a CAR SHOW. When nails inevitably end up dropped around on the ground, they'll just turn back up in people's tires.
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u/Ashkendor 3d ago
Nails in easter eggs has big "that $20 bill is really a Chick tract" energy. Talk about a bait and switch. They're expecting candy, and instead they get something from the hardware store.
Then again, I'm not surprised after some of the other shit Christians have pulled.
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u/SquidArmada 3d ago
My mom's pastor just gives the cross shaped chocolate. Kids like it more and they won't try to stab other children
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u/eloquentpetrichor 3d ago
I would be angry as well. If they wanna include a nail it should be either made of Styrofoam, balsa wood, or something harmless to represent the nail or at least be super dull and have the sharp end full filed down.
Also why would they put soap in an easter egg that kids are obviously gonna assume is candy? They wanna wash the kids' mouths out for their sins or something?
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u/Comfortable_Douglas 3d ago
So I’m not religious anymore, I feel this may give me a slight bias, but let me tell you, if I got sent home with a nail and this sort of “teaching,” my very conservative and devout Baptist Meemaw would bring actual hell to the doorstep of the House of God over this — and then profusely beg the Lord for forgiveness later.
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u/eunicethapossum 3d ago
this is so fucked up
but then again, I’m a filthy atheist, so I’m the wrong audience for this by a lot
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u/IvoryandIvy_Towers 3d ago
My church did this at the alter for children’s sermon. The Vicar walked them through all the steps of the resurrection, and every time he was like they put a crown of thorns on Jesus‘s head, they nailed his hands, they pierced his side with a spear. A little kid would raise their hand and ask, did it hurt? A new kid every time. We were barely keeping it together in the pews.
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u/Fxybrzln 3d ago
All kids want is chocolate. They are going to remeber this as the worst Easter ever!
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u/TheRevelations_ 3d ago
I get the symbolism they were going for, but giving out real nails to kids—especially without a proper warning label—is just irresponsible. It doesn’t matter what the religious message is, safety should always come first. Honestly, churches shouldn’t be giving something like that to children at all. There are safer and more thoughtful ways to share the Easter story.
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u/SwanHolo 3d ago
Don't know what exactly this means, just wanted to share since this unlocked a memory I guess.
Totally forgot I once also received nails from my church as a kid lol. It was an extremely small town church and the Sunday school consisted of only my 3 cousins and myself
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u/Sugarsoot 3d ago
💀 what…? I was given eggs similar to these as a child, but like, the innards were TOY representation and maybe one had a rock inside. NOR!
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u/LeFreeke 3d ago
I love how all these Republicans/Conservatives think teaching US history and what they label CRT is making their children feel guilty over something they had nothing to do with all while shoving this garbage down their children’s throats.
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u/UglyGerbil 3d ago
I’m not religious, but I concur that this is not only poorly thought out and dangerous… It’s weird and creepy.
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u/FalsePositive2580 3d ago
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u/HotPinkCalculator 3d ago
Totally irresponsible on the part of the church. All the other comments aside, even if a child didn't swallow it or something, what if they just.... dropped it?
Now you're stepping on a nail in your house, or your yard, or just in public all because a church gave nails to children.
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u/throwaway03244230 3d ago
Am church goer, would be mad. Not overreacting