atheists and saying grace?

Question

atheists, when you are at someone's home eating dinner and they say grace, what do you do?

i bow my head, think about how my food is getting cold, and don't say amen. that way, it looks like i am being polite.

did i say i was being rude? i am trying to be respectful. i am "participating" as much as i am willing. it's not like i am eating while people are saying grace.

Answer 1

If we're human, we must be respectful of other people's beliefs. The same goes for the national anthem of a foreign country. Show repect at all times.

Answer 2

I bow my head and say amen that it didn't take so long and accept, with grace, that it is a good think to be thankful for share good food with good company. I have my own idea of who or what is being thanked so I don't get hung up about someone else thanking a "heavenly father" (the favored term used by my father in law, who is a Catholic Deacon).

Answer 3

I sit quietly and unobtrusively, I refrain from saying amen as amen indicates agreement with all that was said...

It would be rude to make a scene in someone else's home over a simple ritual, If it becomes clear they have invited me over simply to preach and pray I politely excuse myself and leave...

My parents are very religious people they pray at every meal when I have a meal in their home I do as above when we are eating out together they say a silent prayer for themselves.. When they are eating in my home they will often excuse themselves for a few moments to say a prayer for themselves (They typically use the sun porch as I have indicated that is ok and it is directly off the dinningroom.) .

Answer 4

This is a hard one because my dad's a minister and he says grace at EVERY meal, including in restaurants. I have decided that on this matter, family peace is more important than confronting a couple approaching 80 who have believed their mythology was real their entire lives. They also live deep in the Bible Belt, and so they would consider me the one who was being unreasonable.

So I keep quiet. I don't bow, I don't "amen," but on occasion, I intentionally "forget" and take a few nibbles, which is my passive-aggressive way of saying, "This ritual of yours is standing between us and nourishment."

- {♂♂} - {♂♀} - {♀♀} -

Answer 5

I'm gnostic, not athiest, and I do the same thing if I'm a guest in another person's home - It's out of respect for their right to live their life the way they see fit - I do not have the right to judge them any more than they have the right to judge me.

My Grandmother (a missionary for 25 yrs) always said "Judge not lest ye be judged" - she was not your average Christian... she walked the walk, talked the talk and practiced what she preached ALWAYS.

Answer 6

I bow my head and listen to the person praying. I may say Amen but I may not...

Either way I hope it looks respectful enough.

Answer 7

Actually, it's disrespectful of your host to ask you to pray to their god, if they know you aren't a member of their religion. What you do is good, but if you can find a moment to explain to them the position they are putting you in, I'm sure they'll make every effort to accomodate you. Won't they? If not, you should question your reasons for breaking bread with such people.

Answer 8

I understand that I am in the presence of people surrounded in a culture that believes in santa, easter bunny, jesus, superman, and it's a tradition or culture meant to instill thanks, hope and wonder

I understand the same people COULD pray one prayer over everymeal they ever would recieve, but a limited mentality fosters limited faith

I imagine they are praying/speaking to self and others present, or like players in a game following same set of rules

those who don't play along are "heathen or unbelievers"

Answer 9

I bow my head and look down at my knee's or whatever. I don't say amen either. Its just common courtesy.

Answer 10

I follow the custom of my hosts. I bow my in respect to the hosts, not in respect to any God.

Some people ask all their guests remove their shoes upon entering their home; I look at the two as basically the same thing.

Your house, your rules.