The awkward dinner prayer....

56% Normal
20 Comments

Isn't it so awkward when you're a guest for dinner and the family you're visiting says a prayer before eating??

I'm not religious but it bothers me still, I can't just easily ignore it and play along without feeling like a sellout and just plain annoyed with the rudeness. If I WAS religious, I'd have the courtesy to not force my guests to say a prayer with me.

What's wrong with people?? Can't they knock it off for ONE night if they have a guest? It's so rude. Are they assuming I'm the same religion as they are? Or are they hoping I convert and see the light when subjected to the prayer? Either way, that's just rude. Yet I would be seen as the rude one if I didn't 'act' like I was going along with the prayer. That's ass backwards!

It's ultra weird if they're the type who all hold hands when saying the prayer!

is it normal for this to be very awkward?

Please comment! I'm also interested in what religious people feel about this even if you share the same religion as your hosts.

What's been your weirdest dinner prayer experience?

Voting Results
56% Normal
Based on 59 votes (33 yes)
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Comments ( 20 )
  • Cul-de-sac_Nightmare
    11 years ago | pl

    You're in their house. Don't be a cunt.

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    • NeonLighterz
      11 years ago

      I go over my aunt's for Thanksgiving and I don't say a prayer. It's stupid, freedom of religion, even if it is their house.

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  • dappled
    11 years ago | pl

    I can't see any way around it. I mean, they could be ultra-considerate, tell you that they're going to pray and that you don't have to join in, but wouldn't that just then make you feel left out? I know that you're a guest and all and they should make you feel welcome but there's a limit. You can't expect people to change their religious practices for you.

    I'm not religious and I've never known anyone in this country pray before food (we just don't do it here) but if someone did, I'd try my best to join in. Although it might be different if I had a religion as opposed to not having one. It shouldn't be, though. I have my beliefs too.

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    • jackjones
      11 years ago

      Apparently, you've never been to Oklahoma. God gave us the food so shouldn't we say thankyou. If someone came up and gave you a 20 dollar bill, wouldn't you say thankyou. As lost as a goose.

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        Well, apparently, you'd be right. There are nearly two hundred countries I've never been to and Oklahoma sounds like it's in one of them!

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  • howaminotmyself
    11 years ago

    My father in-law is a Pastor and prayer before a meal is quite common. It was weird at first but now I am use to it. However I never felt the need to join in. And while I don't agree that my safe arrival had anything to do with Jesus, it is nice to hear a general "thanks for driving up to see me." The family doesn't get together very often so when it does, the Patriarch/Pastor blesses the meal and thanks everyone for making the effort (in the name of our lord....) I have learned to tune out the extra religious sounding words.

    You don't have to act like you are going along, just sit in silent respect and wait for them to complete their ritual. I know how awkward it can feel, especially if you didn't grow up with it. But it is a habit for them and they shouldn't have to change their behavior because it might make someone uncomfortable. And not in their own home. The mealtime prayer isn't generally used as a conversion tactic.

    And to answer your last question, my weirdest dinner prayer experience wasn't at dinner, it was during breakfast, or possibly the family campout where I'm pretty sure my brother in-law thanked Jesus for marshmallows.

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  • charli.m
    11 years ago

    Yeah, I get that it's awkward, but you're a guest in THEIR home. That means you play by their rules. Deal with it.

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  • lvz
    11 years ago

    You think that is awkward? We just had a dinner guest tell us (after the fact) that we are rude for not silencing our table (in OUR home) so they can pray aloud. Un-effing-believable.

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  • blueskiestwo
    11 years ago

    man, I am religious and my family prays before meals. One time I was at my boyfriend's house and they said a mock prayer before their dinner. It made me feel so dumb becuase I don't think the parents realized that my family actually does that! we don't hold hands or anything though

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  • kittylitter101
    11 years ago

    For some people, knocking it off for one night is knocking off God for one night. They're so God-fearing that they just can't seem to do it. I say just stick with your own beliefs and tolerate/respect others and how they worship that.
    Or don't do it and be a whiny dick about everything.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    It's even worse when your in your own home and guest starts a prayer up

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  • iEatZombies_
    11 years ago

    Well yes, it's not necessarily considerate for them to be thoughtless enough not to ask if you're uncomfortable with the situation, so you can sit it out. Still, you have to understand it's their home, they're accustomed to how they do things- you need to speak up if it bothers you. I mean, if they want you to it anyway then it's plain rude and I wouldn't eat over there, but til then you gotta talk.

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  • wistfulmaiden
    9 years ago

    It does feel awkward to me whether youre religious or not. I always think, is the cooking so bad you've got to pray that you wont all die? lol

    Seriously my mom is super religious but she never says prayers out loud God can read your mind .

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  • kingofcarrotflowers
    11 years ago

    my exes family did this i had to hold hands with her and her10 yo brother when they prayed. akward

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  • sahtiwaari
    11 years ago

    I just wait until they end their prayers. I don't take part on it either, I don't close my eyes or hold their hands or anything, I just wait in silence. Is not impolite and keeps me from taking part in rituals I don't believe in.

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  • Foreverdecay
    11 years ago

    Oh and we hold hands too... -.-

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  • Foreverdecay
    11 years ago

    Im not religious and my family is. They always pray before eating. Im like uh..... I just be nice and pretend im praying lol. I would probably be embarrassed if i had a friend with me. Most of my friends arent religious either. Its normal

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  • mrsxsalvatore
    11 years ago

    This has never happened to me but I can imagine how awkward it must be. I guess seen as they've invited you into their home, that they would expect you to be respectful and follow the rules, which is a bad way of saying it but what else would you call it?

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  • Terence_the_viking
    11 years ago

    We don't do that.

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  • Wendell
    11 years ago

    Best represented in the movie Meet the Parents

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