We no longer pray at mealtimes in our family. But, this is Christmas, a time for celebration, gatherings, peace, and tradition. I absolutely would ask for a prayer to be said, to show that I love my friends and that I want to respect their religious traditions and make them comfortable.
Think of it a little differently - when I have Muslim friends over to my annual BBQ, I don't insist that they eat pork or non-Halal meats. It is an inconvenience for me to purchase Halal hotdogs and chickens, scrape and clean the grill, and cook it for them. However, I do it because I love and respect my Muslim friends and their traditions.
And second, you are a Canadian, man! Don't get all uptight about this s***, dude - they want to bless the food and give thanks for the things they love, not rebaptise you and cast out spirits ;)
H.
Slackers!
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stemelbow wrote: I don't even know where to go with this. Prayer is important, generally, to Christians. If you are having a meal with Christians and they'd like to pray I don't see the problem. Is it hurting anyone? One couple still believes in God the others do not.
Do you pray when you go out to eat?
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stemelbow wrote: So your friends are insisting? I just think people don't think its putting anyone out if they pray. I suppose you can tell them, "you can't come overto my house and say a prayer. I suppose you can quietly secretly say one to yourselves but you can't say one out loud with each other." But that seems rude to me.
Well it's my house. Why is it rude for me to say you can't do certain things in my house? I'm totally fine with them having a prayer in their heart. I woudn't know if they had one anyways.
Under the circumstances, I'd let them have their prayer with no objections. Then I'd sit there and watch to see if any of them keep their eyes open and tease them about it.
It's not rude, per se, to not allow certain things in your home. I don't allow smoking, for example, and have no qualms about it. I might object to a prayer if I thought my visitors had some kind of an agenda. Unless your friends are cooking up this Christmas dinner thing as a way of "loving" you back into the church, I wouldn't let a little prayer bother me. If that is what they are up to, the prayer is the least of the intrusion.
The person who is certain and who claims divine warrant for his certainty belongs now to the infancy of our species. Christopher Hitchens
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Lucretia MacEvil wrote:Under the circumstances, I'd let them have their prayer with no objections. Then I'd sit there and watch to see if any of them keep their eyes open and tease them about it.
It's not rude, per se, to not allow certain things in your home. I don't allow smoking, for example, and have no qualms about it. I might object to a prayer if I thought my visitors had some kind of an agenda. Unless your friends are cooking up this Christmas dinner thing as a way of "loving" you back into the church, I wouldn't let a little prayer bother me. If that is what they are up to, the prayer is the least of the intrusion.
NO.WAY...I have actually had this situation come up recently with fathers/father-in-laws that wanted (and by "wanted" i mean their wives suggested a prayer to them) to pray over the food but asked me (as the man of the house) who should give the prayer. I had not problem saying that prayer is not required in my home and if someone doesn't want cursed food they can not eat - I can cook like a motha. I actually prayed to Poseidon once...not everyone liked that even though he is my god of choice. Many laughed and we ate.
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schreech wrote:NO.WAY...I have actually had this situation come up recently with fathers/father-in-laws that wanted (and by "wanted" i mean their wives suggested a prayer to them) to pray over the food but asked me (as the man of the house) who should give the prayer. I had not problem saying that prayer is not required in my home and if someone doesn't want cursed food they can not eat - I can cook like a motha. I actually prayed to Poseidon once...not everyone liked that even though he is my god of choice. Many laughed and we ate.
Sounds like a familiar format with fathers ... I just like to pick my battles and this one isn't worth it for me.
This is my prayer of choice:
Good food, Good meat, Good God, let's eat.
The person who is certain and who claims divine warrant for his certainty belongs now to the infancy of our species. Christopher Hitchens
Faith does not give you the answers, it just stops you asking the questions. Frater
schreech wrote:NO.WAY...I have actually had this situation come up recently with fathers/father-in-laws that wanted (and by "wanted" i mean their wives suggested a prayer to them) to pray over the food but asked me (as the man of the house) who should give the prayer. I had not problem saying that prayer is not required in my home and if someone doesn't want cursed food they can not eat - I can cook like a motha. I actually prayed to Poseidon once...not everyone liked that even though he is my god of choice. Many laughed and we ate.
Sounds like a familiar format with fathers ... I just like to pick my battles and this one isn't worth it for me.
This is my prayer of choice:
Good food, Good meat, Good God, let's eat.
The person who is certain and who claims divine warrant for his certainty belongs now to the infancy of our species. Christopher Hitchens
Faith does not give you the answers, it just stops you asking the questions. Frater
Rambo wrote:I thought about it later that they will proabably want to say a prayer. I don't believe in God and I don't really like prayers being said in my house. What do you think I should do? Should I tell them no prayers or just not let it bother me and have a prayer?
You will be the recipient of a Christmas dinner shared with friends. This is a special occasion and graciousness is required. Don't spoil things for them because you do not pray. Let them know ahead of time for someone who does pray to offer the prayer.