"Grace"/Prayer Tomorrow...Yes or No? Is it awkward?

[OCGuy]

Over the years it has seemed more and more forced in my family. It doesn't bother me, I can be quiet for 15 seconds while my stuffing gets cold.

It just seems like the same one or two religious people at the table always crowbar it in....it surely isn't natural.

 

[dbk]

#firstworldproblems

It's over by the time I try to be annoyed by it. However, if I'm ever forced to be the one doing it - that's a different story.. i.e. I'm never coming here for Thanksgiving.

 

[blackdogdeek]

I find it over-religiousizes the occasion and may be off-putting to people in attendance who may not share the grace-sayer's religious beliefs.

I find a toast expressing gratitude for the presence of the loved ones in attendance and NFL on tv to be more appropriate. It is after all, a day for giving thanks.

 

[nanette1985]

If you have religious folks that are family, you probably are really used to this.

And you probably also have family that are really good with the humorous obnoxious retorts to the religious words. In fact you're probably (like my son-in-law) right now making up a way to get your father, the minister, to send prayers to whichever football team you prefer.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve.

 

[KeithTalent]

Never experienced this. I would find it weird and awkward.

We always just toast the host and/or cook.

KT

 

[bignateyk]

I always forget that my in-laws say grace, so usually I have a bite of food already in my mouth when everyone else starts to bow their heads for grace. Then I have to awkwardly chew my bite of food and bow my head for grace.

 

[NetWareHead]

Grace? She passed away 20 years ago!

 

[zinfamous]

Meh, I grew up in the south, so it's typical. Plus, my mom's side of the family is/was rather religious, my mom is a minister, so it's expected when she's around--she just likes to do it.

Short and sweet though--it all ends there.

 

[MiniDoom]

Grace? She passed away 20 years ago!

lol, classic.

 

[MiniDoom]

just put your fucking head down and thank the spaghetti monster for your meal. not a big deal.

 

[AFurryReptile]

As an out atheist, it only really bothers me when someone I'm close to subtly prays that I'll "come around"...

 

[TwiceOver]

To each their own. I put my head down and think of the things that I'm thankful for. When done I eat.

 

[madoka]

Doesn't bother me, but that might be because I'm not a smug douche bag regarding other people's religious choices.

 

[OCGuy]

Doesn't bother me, but that might be because I'm not a smug douche bag regarding other people's religious choices.

You have to see the irony in this.....being the first smug post in the thread.

 

[Platypus]

I just ignore it and don't participate, not a big deal.

 

[thirdeye]

It's only awkward if you make it so. I'm VERY anti-religion, however, I'm also respectful of the fact that other people share different views. If it makes them feel better and doesn't cause you some sort of harm for the 30-60 seconds of your life you have to you endure it, let it slide.

 

[madoka]

You have to see the irony in this.....being the first smug post in the thread.

You're forgetting your OP.

 

[Perknose]

It doesn't bother me one whit. That said, the ones I've heard have been simple, short and sweet.

What most of you who object seem to be forgetting is that thanks to God is absolutely embedded in this holiday. Who or what the fuck else do you thing the Puritans bowed theirs heads and thanked on the first Thanksgiving?

You don't have to believe to be polite for 20 seconds.

Edit:

The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621.[2] This feast lasted three days, and it was attended by 90 Native Americans (as accounted by attendee Edward Winslow)[3] and 53 Pilgrims.[4] The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.[5]

 

[lxskllr]

We never did it in my family. You should get a pagan prayer together, and offer to say grace when the time comes. It'll probably be the last year you have to deal with it ;^)

 

[KeithTalent]

It doesn't bother me one whit. That said, the ones I've heard have been simple, short and sweet.

What most of you who object seem to be forgetting is that thanks to God is absolutely embedded in this holiday. Who or what the fuck else do you thing the Puritans bowed theirs heads and thanked on the first Thanksgiving?

You don't have to believe to be polite for 20 seconds.

20 seconds is a long time. You know how quickly skin builds on an open container of gravy? I say ten seconds tops.

KT

 

[OCGuy]

It doesn't bother me one whit. That said, the ones I've heard have been simple, short and sweet.

What most of you who object seem to be forgetting is that thanks to God is absolutely embedded in this holiday. Who or what the fuck else do you thing the Puritans bowed theirs heads and thanked on the first Thanksgiving?

You don't have to believe to be polite for 20 seconds.

While on the surface it may appear I was complaining about forced-prayer, I was actually trying to start a discussion on the interaction between family members that surrounds said prayer, as well as the waning of religion in general among generation Y.

Trying to influence next year's harvest by giving "thanks" for a mass-produced turkey is as silly and dated as a Mayan sacrifice, meant to please a certain god during an eclipse.

Thanksgiving has turned into a general thanks for family, friends, health, etc....and is widely secular in nature. But if someone wants to say a prayer, it doesn't bother me. I'm usually warm around the eyes from my first bottle of Cab and feeling no pain anyway.

 

[Perknose]

You have got to properly propitiate the Gods.

 

[mikeford]

If you don't like the religious aspect of Thanksgiving, then you should work that day.

 

[dbk]

If you don't like the religious aspect of Thanksgiving, then you should work that day.

Not with 3 NFL games.. :awe:

 

[GTaudiophile]

How about thinking of someone or something other than yourself for a few seconds and show some respect?