What do you do when an event you're at is opened with a prayer or grace? Do you bow your head, sit quietly, leave the room or other?
When I was younger, I would bow my head, too (I was well-trained). By the time I had my daughter, I had decided to just sit quietly and respectfully and taught her to do so, too. As I grew older, I became angrier about forced religious activities so took to leaving the room. Last event I was at, I stayed at the table and crocheted during the grace.
Maybe I could say my own prayer, beginning with "Satan, protect me from delusional idiots ..."? Too rude and inflammatory, perhaps. Hmmm... maybe I could discreetly set the tablecloth on fire ... most centrepieces have a candle ...
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11 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I like looking around at all the other people who are looking around, but I'm quiet.
AstralSmoke
Level 8
May 3, 2018
2
I do that,too, on occasion.
At a wedding funeral or similar congregant event I’ll sit quietly, looking ahead. I no longer bow my head. At a dinner, if I had a lady with religious parents maybe, I would probably bow my head out of respect for those feeding me. That’s a first impression on the in laws sort of favor though.
Wurlitzer
Level 8
Apr 27, 2018
1
I've always found it fun to watch the other people with their heads bowed and mumbling along with the prayer. As they all know I'm not a prayer kind of person, there's usually one or two who look up and over at me. I give them a big, exaggerated grin. They go back to whatever and I still just sit there watching. I couldn't care less that they feel a need to pray (or is it prey?). I will still respect their beliefs and expect them to respect mine.
xyz123
Level 7
Apr 27, 2018
2
I sometimes have the strong urge to suddenly stand up, yell "FU¢K!," then tilt my head back, issue a primal scream, and run from the sanctuary (or wherever) like a drunk monkey. But typically I am just mentally assembling my grocery shopping list.
vita
Level 7
Apr 27, 2018
3
My daughter loves this comment, especially the drunk monkey part. Tempting ... very tempting
I am not a Catholic, but my wife wanted to send a son to a Catholic Junior High. At the time of his graduation, I had to sit in the main Chappell. They not only pray, but also kneel and stand. I didn’t know what to do and decided to sit tight. Nobody said anything to me. That was a God-sent relief.
WanderingJay
Level 4
Apr 27, 2018
1
The sitting, standing, kneeling always confuses me, too
On occasion it has been so long winded a prayer that I have been tempted to yell out mid prayer in a form of fundamentalist Tourette's syndrome.
'HALLEJULAH' !!
'PRAISE THE LORD' !!
'GOD DAMN'!!
'JESUS FUCKING CHRIST' !!
Sadly I was raised to well to do it but the temptation is there and we are all subject to temptations. 
Surfpirate
Level 9
Apr 27, 2018
3
Love it! Yes, temptation can be wonderful fun to contemplate.
I was ultimately voted to chairman of our local planning commission. The agenda was set each meeting by the Mayor. The number 1 item was always prayer, and being in a mormon community was always volunteers and aways mormon. So I started asking for others, tho i do not support opening public government meetings with prayer..since no volunteered, i quit calling for prayer, and the Mayor become quite upset...new chairman, 3500 apartments now built, traffic at a standstill morning and night...
NormCastle
Level 7
Apr 27, 2018
2
Obviously, they needed you more than they needed prayer.
I just sit there quietly. I don't bow my head. I feel im showing respect for my hosts even if i question their beleifs
AND I expect the same courtesy when they come to my home
JimmyM
Level 7
Apr 27, 2018
2
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