Even if you are a non-theist or an agnostic, do you still

[Hardrada]

attend religious services and go through the motions, take communion etc., to placate old relatives, etc? I must confess I do at times.

[Dave Reynolds]

1. No.

I used to bow my head for prayers, but decided that it was dishonest to do so. Now, I just tell people that if I walk into a church, I may burst into flames.

[Hardrada]

3. Hey! I'll use that.

I just don't think fast enough.

[Dave Reynolds]

4. I have born-again in-laws,

I have to stay sharp.

[Radio_Lady]

39. I have Mormon and Conservative Jewish children and grandchildren.

I don't go with them to their services, whenever they go. In the Mormon faith, you can't go into their Temple unless you are Mormon. I just fall asleep at the Jewish services, conducted mainly in Hebrew.

However, once in a while, when I want to attain some spirituality, I go to the local Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship. I find it very inspiring, and the pancake and sausage breakfast -- served every second Sunday of the month -- is delicious! The two kids who live here go with me to a completely non-sectarian religious education school for about half of the service (adults only).

Works for me!

[ashling]

16. When my grandma died and

my dad went back to the little town where he was born for the funeral he said that the church quaked when he walked in ... alas he is gone now too.

[ThomCat]

2. No.

[jhain]

5. No

A dozen years of Catholic school was more than enough.
Than about a dozen years of marriage to an nasty alcoholic and I finally kicked him out and got a divorce. So, now the only way the Catholic Church would have me back for sacraments would be if I murdered the ex SOB and then went to confession. All would be forgiven and I would be welcomed back to the fold.

I hate religion. In every form and every way. From the endless wars to the endless joke of rules, rules and rules. No meat tonight but, lobster tail is ok, folks.

No. I no longer play along. Even though it means my mother will be KICKING me in the shins under the pew to try to force me to go to communuion ( I do attend weddings and funerals in church if I must) I wonder if she goes to confession for that action????

[JI7]

6. yes

they say it doesn't matter if i believe in God or not.

(my family is Hindu)

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

7. I did Xmas/Easter Sunday for about 2 years after I stopped believing

I didn't take communion or go up for blessings when I was doing that though (being an ex-Catholic, it felt doubly wrong given the whole transubstantiation thing).

[LeftyMom]

8. I sang along at a funeral

but no, other than weddings and funerals I don't attend services.

I offered to take my grandmother when she was in town, but she really didn't feel like visiting a strange church. I was relieved.

[riderinthestorm]

9. No

I offer to take the kids to the park while everyone else is in a service, or be the babysitter. I tell them I get my fulfillment from spending time with my kids/nieces/nephews/friends'kids etc.

And I do.

I love playing with them, and since everyone knows I am "the" atheist, it is a win-win situation for everyone.

Don't placate! Stand strong for your non-belief and use it to show others that you aren't some kind of monster but are instead interested in the real details of their life like childcare and spending quality time with children.

[Zookeeper]

10. Never.

I'm old enough that everyone has given up on me in that regard.

[nytemare]

11. I still celebrate Christmas, as far as gift giving.

I would consider myself Buddhist/existentialist/pragmatic.

I must say, I was at a funeral service a few years back, when I was still Christian, for a Deputy killed in the line of duty. There were some 1,500 + people there, and the preacher took his opportunity to say how the Christian god was so much better than the Jewish god and the god of Islam because this, that, and the other. I thought it was extremely tacky, being that plenty of Jewish people, Muslims, etc could have been there just trying to PAY THEIR RESPECTS. He seemed like a real ass to me.

[TheBaldyMan]

12. No, I prefer not to attend any religious ceremonies.

I have attended some services but I wouldn't participate in communion. If you are tolerant of others religion the least you can expect is a respect for your beliefs in return.

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. I refrain from belching and grabbing the best cuts...

..when someone is saying grace. I do find that during grace is a prime opportunity to scope the table for the best display of décolletage.

[Hardrada]

15. I never look down for grace but look around instead

and sometimes meet other cynical or wise eyes doing the same thing.

[NNadir]

14. I used to go to church in memory of my mother on Good Friday.

I was an important holiday for her, she would weep during "the hours her lord was on the cross."

When I was young, I was allowed no levity in those hours.

By going to church, I felt no metaphysical event was taking place, but I did feel very close to my mother and the many fine traits she had.

I don't do it anymore. I am a father myself, now, and don't necessarily have the time for that indulgence.

[ghostsofgiants]

17. Nope...

I've been inside a church twice since I was 13. One for a funeral, once for my high school graduation.

[Floogeldy]

18. I am an agnostic who has been blessed by Jesus.

I can't explain it.

[Hardrada]

20. In my case, I feel I learn

how to treat others from Jesus but also from Buddha and Gandhi.

[catbert836]

19. Yes....

I actually just read parts from the Stations of the Cross a few hours ago. For service hours, I'm still in high school. I also am forced to attend liturgies at my Catholic prep school. :banghead:

[Hardrada]

21. When I was your age I was still very pious

and annoyed people by admonishing them about their nonobservance of various religious rules etc. People wondered if I was trying to be a saint. I guess I sort of missed that particular calling!

[Robeson]

22. Nope.

[Random_Australian]

23. Nope n/t

[NMMNG]

24. No.

I used to bow my head if I was trapped in a prayer situation with others but I came to be of the opinion that faking it was more disrespectful than not so I don't even do that anymore.

[fishwax]

25. It makes my mom and grandma happy, so yeah ...

a few times a year I give up an hour of my life to make them happy. I don't lie about anything, and even when I go I don't generally take communion (they're catholic, so that's a big deal, and a clear indication of where I stand). But I know that my sharing that time with them makes them happy, and that's more than worth it to me.

[Hardrada]

30. More or less what I do.

It can't hurt.

[marzipanni]

26. At an outdoor wedding I looked at the beautiful trees and clouds above

while the religious people and "polite" people looked downwards or closed their eyes during recitation of a prayer. Later my husband said he did the same thing, and I'm sure my son looked around at everyone because it was a new experience for him.

[Wetzelbill]

27. I'm the opposite, I'm a believer yet I don't go to church

not a big fan of organized religion. I like to pray and do my own thing just by myself.

[In_The_Wind]

28. no

[Hissyspit]

29. No.

I usually don't close my eyes or lower my face when others are in prayer, either.

[LaraMN]

31. Nope. I've felt like an alien when I've attended church with other

people. It's like being in a different country.

[JanMichael]

32. No.

[SoulGlo]

33. NO

I don't want to placate old relatives. I'm kind of a bitch like that.

[Fleshdancer]

34. Do weddings and funerals count?

I still do that but not much else.

The last time I went to church was to watch my mother-in-law sing a solo in her church choir. So in other words, I go to support or pay my respects to friends and family but not to placate anyone. My old relatives didn't go either so I'm in good company. :D

[NewJeffCT]

35. I'm an atheist and I do that at family functions

I have some relatives that are pretty devout Catholics, and I don't consider it worth getting into a fight over.

[skygazer]

36. The only time I'm in a church is for weddings or funerals

And I've got to admit, I'm always a little nervous, looking over my shoulder for lightning bolts and such.

[qnr]

37. No. n/t

[Misunderestimator]

38. No.

[kid a]

40. No

[Ramsey]

41. Nope

Very rarely I will go to the Christmas midnight mass because it makes my mom happy if I go with her, and the choir at her church is really good, so I enjoy the music.
I usually leave before the actual service starts since it is interminably long and boring!

[poleepafrog]

42. Nope

I gave up feeling obligated in that direction years ago, except for services held in churches for funerals.