Christian comes into an atheists home and begins to pray at the dinner table. What do you say to make them stop?
They are not respecting me or my home.
2007-06-11 21:48:28 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
say "stop it"
2007-06-11 21:59:15 · answer #1 · answered by Queenie knows it all. 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If my Christian friends come over and pray at the table, I would not say anything. Just because I don't have the same set of believes as them, it does not mean that I have to be rude.
2007-06-12 04:53:44 · answer #2 · answered by Hardrock 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well...were they forcing you to pray, too?
Were they praying passive agressively, like "And Lord, please help this wayward woman see the light" or some such nonsense?
Were they being extremely loud and rude with it?
I think that if you answered no to any of these questions, then you should just let it be, especially if they were family or friends. And if it is a part of their belief system to pray before meals, it seems petty to ban them from it; I know it is your house, but I'd think if they were just saying a dinner prayer, they were within their rights to do it.
If it truly bothers you though, maybe you could ask them to pray silently?
Good luck.
2007-06-12 04:56:01 · answer #3 · answered by Calliope 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't mind if they pray to themselves at the dinner table. Hell, I will even shut my trap and wait for them to finish before I eat. It is no skin off my back. To me it would be like getting offended if you heard a kid in your yard talking to an imaginary friend. As long as they respect me enough to not push it on me, I could really give a crap less....now if they started leaving religious leaflets around the house as hints, that would be over stepping their bounds.
2007-06-12 05:19:47 · answer #4 · answered by SiteYourSource 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You all talk about tolerance yet some Christian prays a blessing over food and you fall apart. How about accepting their culture. Some Christians, if not most, are raised with blessing the food. It's our culture. You guys who get all bent out of shape over something like that are way to sensitive. If you invited them in and didn't want them to do what they've been doing most of their lives then you should probably tell them not to do it if your that whack about it.
2007-06-12 05:05:08 · answer #5 · answered by Who's got my back? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I would not invite them in the future. It does not seem reasonable to ask them to stop following the tenants of their religion.
I visit my Protestant mother all the time. Unfortunately, she'll bark "let's pray" each time we eat, and hold my hand while praying for my health (cough* conversion), though she knows I am an atheist. Still, it's her house, so I'm not sure if I can do anything about this.
2007-06-12 04:53:23 · answer #6 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would just ignore it. Presumably, they have some kind of family tie or something to be invited to dinner with such poor manners. I know you don't like it but you can be more open minded than they can. Hearing their prayer won't send you to hell (at least not for any longer than the prayer lasts). Fighting the issue will just get everyone upset and stretch the argument through the whole dinner. Just be sure to talk to your kids about it afterward so they understand about religious people.
2007-06-12 04:57:06 · answer #7 · answered by Kuji 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If they are not an immediate family or 'best friends' just show them the door.
Or ask them for a moment of silence... where they could pray without speaking up loud?
Want to try?
2007-06-12 08:17:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are the one not respecting your fellow man. If they want to pray let them. If they are not forcing you are asking you then it should not be a problem. Next it will be they are praying in your neighborhood, or state. This is where tolerance for others beliefs should over weigh what your beliefs are. I say if your beliefs are so strong you would not mind.
2007-06-12 04:53:23 · answer #9 · answered by je 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I've seen this question asked a couple of times before.
Now I know your not the good Sara.
Your the bad Sara coming out of the box.
To answer your question, I first have to understand why you would be so offended by prayer.
Instead of strife, I suggest you join him in prayer and give thanks that you have food on your table.
Sounds to me like you need a good vacation.
God Bless
2007-06-12 17:15:33 · answer #10 · answered by lifeinheavenforeever 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you pray to god when you go into a christians home? If not, are you disrespecting their home? I don't pray, but I wouldn't take huge offence if someone was praying quietly to themselves, unless they were trying to get me to pray too.
2007-06-12 04:55:35 · answer #11 · answered by Tom :: Athier than Thou 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋