A prayer before dinner

[no one]

I know people who pray before they eat. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. The 85 seconds that it takes them to do so, does not put a damper on my day.

[EgoDeath]

I know people who pray before they eat. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. The 85 seconds that it takes them to do so, does not put a damper on my day.

It doesn't put a damper on my day either. But I'm not going to wait to eat while they pray just to make someone else feel better if we're out at Friday's for dinner. You can take the time to pray, I'm going to eat my Jack Daniel's burger, no tomato.

If we're at someone's house... eh... then it's sort of a respect thing. I'm in your home, I can keep quiet while you do grace and politely say amen at the end of the meal. Not a big deal.

But in a restaurant? Fuck you, I'm eating. Not gonna make a big deal of it. Not gonna argue, but also not gonna wait until they're finished. I'm hungry so I'm eating. Pray if you want, but I'm eating.

[no one]

I assume I am eating with people I care about in this situation.

It's not about me respecting their beliefs, it's about me respecting the person.

[EgoDeath]

I assume I am eating with people I care about in this situation.

It's not about me respecting their beliefs, it's about me respecting the person.

Sure, which is why I said if I were in someone's home, I'd happily wait for grace to be said until I ate.

But out at a restaurant? Why does it constitute as respect for me to wait until THEY say grace? It isn't their home and no one else is expected to partake in their ritual in public.

If YOU want to say grace. YOU can say it. I'm going to eat. How is that disrespectful? Disrespectful would be arguing that they can't say grace while out to eat with me because I'm an atheist.

What's rude is expecting everyone else to partake in your personal ritual while out to eat in a public place.

[no one]

If I am out to lunch with a friend who Sikh, and they pray before they eat, they are not praying in spite of me, it's just what they do. I am not going to starve to death in the time it takes them to do their thing.

[EgoDeath]

If I am out to lunch with a friend who Sikh, and they pray before they eat, they are not praying in spite of me, it's just what they do. I am not going to starve to death in the time it takes them to do their thing.

Correct. And it's not going to ruin their prayer if you take a bite of your burger while they partake in their ritual.

[no one]

Maybe I am misunderstanding, I am not talking about having lunch with any old bozo, or having lunch where the friend of a friend of a friend attends.

I am talking about lifelong friendships where you are basically part of the family. I don't need to take a bite of my food just to show you I don't care what you think.

I am not saying that you are wrong. If that's your reaction, then that's your reaction.

[EgoDeath]

Maybe I am misunderstanding, I am not talking about having lunch with any old bozo, or having lunch where the friend of a friend of a friend attends.

I am talking about lifelong friendships where you are basically part of the family. I don't need to take a bite of my food just to show you I don't care what you think.

I am not saying that you are wrong. If that's your reaction, then that's your reaction.

A reminder that the quote or mention feature is helpful when you're responding to someone.

Also, what does it matter how close you are with the person? There's no point to prove or reason to show I "don't care" what they think; I'm simply going to eat the food I ordered and choose to not partake in their ritual. 

I'm honestly not sure how you could misconstrue this as disrespect or someone trying to prove a point...? It's simply choosing to not partake in their ritual.

Me choosing to eat my food is no more disrespectful than them expecting me to wait until they're done praying to eat. So why not just eat my food while you guys can go ahead and pray? Don't see what the big deal is.

[onlinebiker]

Do the same people who pray before they eat - pray before they take a shit?

They probably should - cover things at both ends kind of thing.

I mean - if the alleged creator of the universe needs to be thanked for the food before you eat it - he should probably also be thanked when you're done with it.

Although - getting everyone to hold hands - in a public bathroom - might send the wrong message.

[Acrobat]

I don't know how to handle this.  I have two religious friends, and whenever I go out to eat with either of them this is a problem.  I meet one only at restaurants.  He always says a prayer before eating.  It makes me feel awkward, as though by waiting until he's finished I am in agreement with the prayer.  I'm not.
I have another friend who I met for dinner at someone's house.  Before we ate she said a prayer, while we all waited.  (Several of us are non-believers).  
Again, the awkwardness while waiting for her to finish the prayer.  This is just me, but I find that to be a little rude and self-serving.
I am tempted to eat before she finishes the prayer, but that would be construed as rude.
I wish I knew how to deal with this problem.  Any suggestions?

Man, I would hate to have such a petty friend like you.

If my Muslims friends, wanted to say a word of prayer, or gratitude etc.. before a meal, why would I be so petty to be bothered by it? If they find it meaningful, or significant to them, why would I care to make an issue of it, or bothered by it? They’re not hurting me by doing so.

It seems like a weird thing to be bitter about. Something more likely to damage the friendship than build it.