I'm Atheist . How do I "grin & bear it" tomorrow @ the blessing?

Question

NO rude BS . remember this is the USA & freedom of religion OR NO religion. Should I put in my Ipod for 5 minutes or what?

Answer 1

I just bow my head like everyone else and ponder about the sage mashed potatoes I'm about to eat, not anything godly.

Answer 2

first of all i think its great that you will even grin and bear it. My family is catholic and because my brother is an atheist he refuses to even come to dinner because of the blessing. If possible and the loved ones you are with can handle maybe politely excuse yourself at the time of blessing, or stand there listen and just don't take it in. Putting in your ipod is a bad idea. but if you can stand to be there maybe in your mind go to your happy place and just don't listen. Once again good for you to not want to push your beliefs on someone else and respecting your loved ones Right to believe!!!!! The worlds would be a better place if everyone did this.

Answer 3

You may be athiest, but that doesn't give you a right to be rude and listen to your IPOD.
That would be really disrespectful to their beliefs.. and since you want to be respected for your Athiest Beliefs, then set the example, and show respect by just keeping quiet when they pray and leaving it be. It doesn't hurt for you to keep quiet for a few minutes while they have a blessing.. and it shows respect for their beliefs, even though they aren't your own.

Let me give you an example.. if you were for legalizing drugs, if anyone else had a different belief than that, do you go out and grab your IPOD so you don't have to hear what their saying?? No.. you are polite and listen.

I'll add one more thing.. it's Thanksgiving, a time of showing gratitude, and giving thanks.. I'm guessing these people you're having dinner with are family.. why not show them some gratitude and love for them this Thanksgiving and just respecting their beliefs, and letting them pray with out you making a distraction of putting on your IPOD at the table. How much ruder could you be??

I am Christian.. and my best friend is Jewish.. I have gone to their more holy holiday dinners.. and I've gone to Barmitzahs and such too.. and it's about respect. I'm not Jewish.. but I care about my friend and her family and so I show respect to them by their beliefs.

Same thing for you. You may be Athiest.. and they may be Christian, but this is a matter of respecting their beliefs. If you can't do that then you should not celebrate the holiday with them.

Answer 4

Being an Atheist you deal with a lot of people being rude because of the choice you've made. Now think of how that makes you feel. Do you want to make others feel that way or do you want to set an example how to treat others choice with respect? You answered your own question with it's the USA and freedom of religion. I say grin!

Answer 5

You should ask yourself why you're asking this question. What is so bad about respectfully listening to others while they profess their faith -- would it even be 5 whole minutes? Are you afraid of Jesus Cooties or something? Worried about instantaneous conversion between the stuffing and the pumpkin pie? There is no issue here other than your being oversensitive. Think about it: how would you feel if every time you started talking about things you believed in, your conversation partner busted out an iPod until you'd finished moving your pie-hole? D

Answer 6

I feel your pain:) I'm a pagan and the majority of my family is Christian. I, too, shall have to sit through the blessing before dinner. Although I do not pray before a meal, I find nothing wrong with respecting the beliefs and traditions of those I love. I hold hands with them (my family holds hands while they pray) and respectfully lower my gaze. I always keep in mind that I only do this out of love for them.

If I'm in a testy mood and get sick of hearing certain catch phrases, I let my thoughts wander and think of something else. I think that they'd find you listening to your Ipod at the table a bit less than polite and maybe even feel hurt over it. I know it's hard to respect the beliefs of people who may not respect yours (or your lack thereof) but tolerance and understanding of others has to begin somewhere.

Answer 7

If it really bothers you THAT much, why not stay at home alone. Honestly, we all put up with things, and standing quietly for a few moments while someone does a blessing isn't going to hurt you. And if you just consider it a "wish" for the blessings offered you might even be cordial enough to say "Amen" at the end. This is in respect for the HOST and HOSTESS, the whole world doesn't revolve around you.

Answer 8

Just wait it out. It won't take 5 minutes and it would be INCREDIBLY rude to put on an ipod. There's no reason to be rude and spit on the beliefs of others.
Aren't you thankful for what you have? Just silently remind yourself about the good things in your life.

Answer 9

Sounds to me like you're outnumbered, and also that you're going to someone else's house, correct? I don't think you have any other choice other than to be quiet and hang your head while they say the blessing. After all--it lasts only a minute or so.

Answer 10

Take it in the spirit (no pun intended) that all their prayers are their most sincere well wishes for you. After all, these people are attempting to intervene with their God on everyone's behalf. Also, they are thanking their God for the opportunity to be with you all.

So just take it for what it's worth. You don't have to share their beliefs to appreciate their good feelings and wishes.

It's the holidays. Be nice and charitable. Isn't that what it's all about?

Answer 11

You sit patiently while they pray, remembering that just as you have the freedom to NOT believe, they have the freedom to believe.

You can lead by example that not all athiests are nasty, rude, hating people. You are patient, kind, and understand that they have the need to give thanks.

Just sit there quietly, let them pray, and when it's over...go on about your business of eating some damn good fixins!