So a few Thanksgivings ago my grandpa asked me to say grace before the big family meal. I was very uncomfortable because I am the lone atheist in my family, and since my grandpa is such a sweet old man I couldn’t say no.

I said something to the effect of "I would like to thank all the farmers and ranchers, whose hard work has made this meal and our livelihoods possible." I never mentioned God, and this sent two of my uncles into a rage, saying that it was God alone that made the meal possible and that without God there would be no food at all. I was distraught to think that they would reduce the very people their lives rely on to pawns of some invisible being. God did not make the food magically appear on the table, God did not breed the turkey or grow the potatoes. It was people who live and work on farms, who have some of the hardest and least rewarding jobs in the world, that provided us with the food. Even after I explained this, I was still belittled and shunned by those family members who are willing to deny other’s livelihoods in favor of a god that has literally done nothing.

To this day, every time I sit down to a meal I think in appreciation of the farmers and ranchers, the REAL people that made my meal and lifestyle possible, and not some invisible being that steals all the credit. I consider it my version of grace before meals.

Do any of you other atheists do this?

Well, Jimmy Stewart did it better in Shenandoah:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzzyZ1M-kVU

It's almost a shame that its screenwriter's next project was "The Green Berets."

(March 29, 2013 at 1:45 pm)Quid Wrote: Do any of you other atheists do this?

I appreciate good qualety, buy from lockal non industrial farmers or at least those who dont stuff their products with antibiotics or wash it with chlorine or such stuff, avoid rubbish food and try to get fair trade stuff.

But I dont appreciate their work, probably because they are doing their job and not doing me a favor.

I'd have gone the Ricky Gervais route and finished with "Thank God for making me an atheist."

(March 29, 2013 at 2:15 pm)Insanity x Wrote: I'd have gone the Ricky Gervais route and finished with "Thank God for making me an atheist."

Bunuel did it first.

(March 29, 2013 at 2:24 pm)Rev. Rye Wrote: Bunuel did it first.

The Brunnel route then.

People actually say grace??? LOL

I always thought I should give thanks to myself for my own grace in giving myself the penetration and perception to not thank any non-existent god for taking credit for things which are the result of work of others.

Why couldn't you just decline to pray publicly?

Your welcome. A lot of time, effort, and money goes into growing/raising quality produce. Farming is fulfilling enough; but the satisfaction people get from my fields and pasture is an added benefit. Telling the person who grew the food you ate how good it was, is the best compliment you can give.