I'm Christian and so is my husband and children but his family is not and they want us to celibrate christmas with them. Last year they didn't want to say a prayer before we ate and when I did I got a lecture how I was weak in the mind cause I needed to believe in God. Well I don't want to celibrate Christmas with them. It's a christian holiday and they are not christians. My husband only sees his family 2 or 3 times a year and thinks I should just buck it up and get along with them for christmas. I would rather stay home alone and let him and the kids go than celibrate christmas with non believers. Should I stay home alone or buck it up and go??
2006-10-24 07:30:08 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
This seems to mean a lot to your husband, and it looks like he'd be hurt if you didn't go.
Can't you be the bigger person for the Holidays?
Just pray to yourself. I'm sure the Wiccans and other faiths will do that to themselves, and the Athiest won't have anything to ***** about.
2006-10-25 06:27:00 · answer #1 · answered by AmyB 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Suck it up and go. I'm not a Christian, but I love celebrating Christmas. These days it seems like most people celebrate the holiday not for religious reasons, but because it's nice to get together with family and friends that you don't get to see very often.
It is wrong for them to talk bad about your beliefs, but because they are hosting you, I would recommend against saying a prayer before the meal in front of the family. (Perhaps you and your husband and kids can say a prayer on the drive over there.) If they were at your house, I would say to go ahead and pray. It's your house, so you can do what you want there. At someone else's house though, you should just go along with what they normally do.
It seems like your husband really wants to spend the holiday with his family. Please don't make him miss out (or be miserable by going without you) because you don't agree with his family's beliefs. That's why this country can't get along with other countries, and why people in this country hate one another. We have to learn to live with people despite our differences. I'm sure you'll be able to handle this for a couple of hours or days.
2006-10-24 07:36:55 · answer #2 · answered by K 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus used to spend time with prostitutes and tax collectors. You can't spend time with your own family? Maybe you are missing the point. Go celebrate with them, and be graceful, kind and generous: a model of Christian behaviour.
BTW Wiccans believe in god and they have a holiday around the same time as Christmas. I can't see a Wiccan telling you you're weak for believing. Most of the witches I've met have a healthy respect for Christ's teachings, even if they don't believe he's the son of god.
2006-10-24 07:38:03 · answer #3 · answered by Gallifrey's Gone 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should stay home on Christmas. You can do the family get together thing before but you are a family so celebrate the way you want your children to remember, which I would think would be centered around Jesus if your Christians. Also I'm sure you get the kids presents so who wants to leave there new presents on Christmas?
2006-10-24 07:35:30 · answer #4 · answered by osu_fanz 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Regardless of their believes they obviously don't respect your right to your believes. They had no right lecturing you on your prayer.
I think if they respected you as an individual that you wouldn't be feeling this way and this is what you need to express to your husband. Otherwise he may think you don't want to go simply because they aren't Christians. And since you gave them the first chance that they blew I don't think that is the issue.
If your husband can't see this then I would recommend that you stay home. Nobody has a right to push into a situation where your individual rights are not respected. It's not like you told them they HAD to pray.
---------------------------------------
I do not agree with others who say buck it up for your kids... what is this teaching your kids? I know I teach my kids to stand up for their believes. Although we can teach our children tolerance of others do we subject them to disrespect in the process?
2006-10-24 07:36:14 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mom replaced right into a touch reluctant on the commencing up after which began asking questions six months later while she observed my sister and that i've got been doing greater ideal than earlier. interior of many years she replaced into analyzing plenty and declared herself pagan. some years later and she or he chanced on that heathenism is the place she's stated as, like my sister and that i. So it worked out - residing our lives and residing greater ideal (not greater trouble-free, yet spiritually and emotionally greater ideal) led her to ask the questions she had pushed returned approximately Christianity. Now, my minister cousin and family individuals is a distinctive tale. they have VERY selective ideas while it comprises remembering that we are actually not Christian and that i'm no longer instantly. i do no longer push while i'm vacationing. I attend church, I help out with church events and don't remind them of stuff that would desire to reason important stress and harm the relationship. it quite is merely greater trouble-free, he's the sole family individuals we've left. With my veteran team - i do no longer announce my faith. i do no longer hide it and that i do no longer announce it. So, end effect - i might desire to survive all of them! LOL
2016-12-28 03:55:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buck up and go. However, if you do decide to stay home alone on your pagan holiday, you could do the following:
1) Learn the difference between gnostics and agnostics
2) Learn to spell
3) Learn the history of Christmas
2006-10-24 07:40:48 · answer #7 · answered by Dexter Lives 1 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Stay home alone and try to keep from poisoning your childrens' minds against his family.
You will be happier and as the mom you can spend as much time as you want passing on your beliefs to your kids.
There will come a time when your children ask you questions about the differences, then is the time to tell them your feelings.
Be grateful that your children will get exposed to a wide variety of beliefs, that is a good thing.
2006-10-24 07:34:53 · answer #8 · answered by Gem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. It's a Christian feast and if they wish to celebrate it they should at least allow you to say a prayer before the meal. I would avoid them at all costs as they will probably just end up making you feel bad. I would go to see them before or after Christmas but not on Christmas Day. Alternatively, your husband could have a talk to them before Christmas and tell them that, if you do go there on Christmas Day, they need to respect your beliefs.
2006-10-24 07:43:16 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First off, its family and hate'em, love'em want to kill'em or whatever its still family. I see your point but if you think that if any of them came to your home and when it was time to pray before dinner they got up from the table and walked away so they wouldn't be involved in a prayer i think you would be wrong. You need to respect who's home your in.
Suck it up, drink some eggnog and let your hubby see his family.
2006-10-24 07:36:20 · answer #10 · answered by Winny 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋