Politely decline; if they were true friends they would respect your beliefs.

I'd make it conditional that they come to an atheist meet up with me at a later date. If they decline, the problem solves itself and no guilt would be felt by me for then declining their invitation. If they lie and say they'll go and later decline, then one wasted a bit of time, kept the friendship, and will decline the next time I'm invited without guilt.

If they are real friends they will respect and accept your declining to attend church with them. Just tell them that you are an atheist and going to worship something you don’t believe exists would be pointless. It has nothing to do with their feelings, it is not a personal rejection of them, just a rejection of their belief in god. If your friendship is valued by them there should be no problem, if they take offence and it ends your friendship, then they were not true friends to start with.

If they are really close friends they also understand how friendship requires showing of respect for differences as well as commonalities. An invitation to indulge with them in addictive substances would differ little. Just say no.

Tell them that I am going to my church to worship. Then head over to IHOP for pancakes. Or to a nearby Italian restaurant for a pastafarian service.

I would offer to clean up the breakfast dishes or cut the grass instead.

no one who was that close a friend of mine would even dream of asking me to go to church with them, and if by some quirk they did, they would not be hurt by my declining to do so. if they were the kind of folks who temporarily forgot i was not ever going to go to church with them, and they were the kind of folks who'd be hurt by my refusal, i certainly wouldn't be visiting them on a sunday. they probably wouldn't be my friends, either.

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If they were close friends then they would know already that I wouldn't be going.

i wouldnt go. they wouldnt go devil worshipping if i wanted too either. be true too yourself

If they're good enough friends and OK inviting an atheist I'll go to Church/Temple/Mosque, then sure I done so plenty of times. Whether it be wedding, funeral, bat mitzvah, first communion or just, we're going to attend a service do you want to stay here or keep us company. I'd not want their imaginary friends get in the way of their real ones. Not least because when I'm merely present, they can't help but wonder what it all looks like to the atheist sitting next to them and that got to be a nudge towards thinking critically about it all.

I would politely decline. I don't understand how this would hurt their feelings. Are they so fragile that your saying thanks but no would wound them that badly?

To me if they're really that close of friends I would go as long as they were aware of my beliefs or lack thereof had a lighter note stay away from the Kool-Aid

I would most likely attend their services with them. I do not believe that I would risk this friendship over one church service. Attending the service would gratify my friends and not change anything for me.

If it’s just a Sunday service skip it. If it’s a special event, it’s not a big deal.. it’s just a building.

I would go...no problem here...

If they were close friends they wouldn't expect me to attend church with them.. If they really wanted me to go.to meet other firends..or such.. maybe a barbque.. whatever.. and said.. if you like to go... perhaps..but probably not.

Politely decline with as few words as possible. Not your problem, their feelings, and they sure ignored tyour unease......

It's up to you. Recently I met an older man, a younger man, and what looked like the younger man's 2 kids at my door. They were all smiles and the younger man thrust a bible tract into my hand and they invited me to their church. I gave it back immediately and said "I do not go to church" and closed the door.

If the know your beliefs or non, good friends would not ask to begin with.

I've always found a firm but friendly "No, thank you" works well. I've never had anyone be offended, even by people who don't know that I'm a nonbeliever.

Well, I was staying with a couple for a short time a long time ago, and they invited me to church, and after expressing no interest, they continued to insist, so I went. When everyone rose to sing a hymn, I remained seated. Afterward they complained to me that I have "embarrassed them". I was unmoved by their complaint . . . the problem with accepting such an invitation is that they will likely think the same way, and when you go, and they attempt to put social pressure on you with the expectation that you will cave in to it.

Do what you gotta do.