Hanging out at a friends house last night.

[Brian37]

99% of the time when a theist saws "let's bow our heads" there asking those that want to pray to bow their heads. It's the easiest way to address a group. I know they don't expect everyone to bow their head or pray. Any theist that has kids and tries to get their kids to "bow their head" doesn't really expect the hungry toddler to care or understand talking to God. The toddler simply doesn't care about what they're doing and wants to eat.

I believe you're feeling cognitive dissonance because of the social pressure to not eat so other people can talk to something you don't believe in. What might help you is separating out whether you're pissed they talk to God, or that you feel obligated not to eat right away. Doesn't sound like you were asked to play and not expected to participate. Does people having an option to pray in school bother you as well? Does seeing someone in a restraint praying for their food bother you too?

Having an option to pray doesn't remove your option not to pray. Asking the room to bow their head doesn't mean you have to. Just care less about what they think and when they go to hold your hand while they pray grab a drumstick instead and nod to them As also pointed out, you're the guest and hospitality is a gift and a skill not all have. I don't fix my guests drinks I pint them to the cupboard and fridge. I do try and give them a clean bathroom and variety of drinks and snacks but that's about it.

Who is it going to physically hurt if someone doesn't even bow their head or hold hands? Is someone going to get sick, or end up in the ER? NO.

Now go back an read my posts. IF I had held the meal at my house I STILL would NOT stop them from praying, why should it be a big deal to you if I simply stand there in silence without even bowing my head? I am not hurting you or denying you.

I don't give a shit that I am the guest. AGAIN if you think being a good friend works like that. Invite a Jew over and offer them ham, they should eat it according to your bad logic. It is also important to be a good host, not use your majority status as some sort of implied pecking order.


It isn't going to hurt you to even as a host to refrain from asking others who are not into what you are into, to refrain from partaking in it.