Ever get asked to pray at the big holiday meal?

Question

Ever get put on the spot like that? What goes through your mind? Have you ever refused? Or does your family know you well enough not to even ask?

Atheists, what do you do when your extended family's patriarch/matriarch asks someone to pray? Would you show respect and bow your head, or would you find it hypocritical, and just start to eat while the rest of your family is praying?

Thanks for your thoughts

Answer 1

Yes I often get asked to pray at holiday meals. It's a honor and a privilege to thank God for what are family has.

Answer 2

Yes. In our family, there have been some times when the prayer is not done by one person, but rotates around the table. I am a Pagan and the rest of my family are Christians, but I am perfectly capable of saying something that we can all agree with such as: "We are thankful for this food and where it all came from, and the people who prepared it. May this meal draw us together as a family in good fellowship, health, and prosperity."

If I disagree with the prayer, I might not bow my head while it is being said, but I am respectful and stay silent while the others pray. Who is going to see? They all have -- or are supposed to have -- their eyes closed. If they care so much about whether I'm bowing my head or not that they open their eyes to look when they should be praying instead, perhaps they should think about their intentions.

Answer 3

It would depend on the circumstances what I did if asked to pray. If I were in a group of strangers, I would just say something ecumenical and let it go. Among family and friends it wouldn't happen, since they all know that I'm a non-believer. I would certainly wait to begin eating until the others had finished praying out of respect for their beliefs.

Answer 4

I'll do you one better, I was once put on the spot (by my step-mother) to stand in as the minister for a wedding service. Due to medical reasons, the couple had already been married at city hall, but this was the family gathering and the woman they hired to perform the service had some sort of car issue. Man, talk about nervous and awkward. Standing up there reading out of a bible and basically just making stuff up as I went along.

Answer 5

Yes. I feel honored. My Grandma Wade, the matriarch of the family, used to do it. She died last year, and I became the one, though I was sixteen at the time. I love to pray and am honored that the family has chosen me to take the role of such a dear woman in our lives.

Answer 6

Only if I go to my brothers as he is a conservative evangelical christian. My parents never ask me but then they don't pray at meals either.

I have refused and have left the room until the prayer session is over. The very few times they were at my house, I gave them time alone in the dining room for that before I joined them.

My family has known my feelings for so long - 23 years now - that anyone except my brother never asks me to join them in prayer.

Answer 7

I have been put on the spot like that and it used to be very uncomfortable for me....
Today, my spirituality is in effect and and i do not think that my family would put me on the spot like that...for fear of what i would say!

I always do my best to respect the thoughts of others....and not be rude!

bb
)o(
trinity

Answer 8

Yes I get ask to Pray, as a matter of fact we didn't till I came along and had the courage to do it. It is an honor to give thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, so if they ask you just take your time and let Jesus help you get thru it, after the first time, its a whole lot easier. God Bless You!!!

Answer 9

My brother is a christian, and I normally ask him to finish his prayers before inviting me. Sometimes I'm caught when he asks all at the table to pray, and I say "go ahead, I'll wait for you"

Answer 10

I constantly theory it develop into not relaxing to envision trip debts with the aid of fact i'm getting jealous and want to work out those places myself incredibly of analyzing approximately them. yet I enjoyed this one. it rather is not particular sufficient as Keyser suggested, yet that's what made me examine it devoid of having bored. i do in contrast to whilst human beings write prolix, Balzac-like descriptions of places they bypass to, it wearies down even a e book trojan horse like me. thankfully the author avoids that throughout the time of his emails. So definite, it rather is thrilling and informative.