Atheists, Agnostics, what do you do when you are with people who want to say grace before a meal?

Personally I'd just sit quiet and wait until they're finished. There is really no reason for you to copy their motions if you don't believe that it matters. You could do it out of respect, but then again, to me it would be more respectful just to let them do what they do without joining in. You have no obligation to them to join in any way. If they know you're an agnostic, this shouldn't be a problem.

I have yet to be in that position. The times where people wanted to say grace, I was with fellow atheists who literally said: "Grace!" And then we ate.

I have been to a religious graduation where we were often asked to bow our heads in prayer. I just sat there quietly, so I imagine I would do the same at a dinner function where grace is to be said before a meal.

LOL, properly, do no longer positioned on a tag on your shirt that publicizes you're an atheist. How is all of us going to appreciate, anyhow, until you tell them? If somebody occurs to ask you what your faith is, in simple terms say, "i'm no longer religious." they are going to possibly circulate, "oh, ok." relies upon on the state, too. States in New England (extraordinarily Vermont) and western US are plenty much less religious than southern states. @ Scibear and Mike - incorrect. (A)theism is a place on theory; (a)gnosticism is a place on information. maximum atheists additionally are agnostic, as in they don't have self assurance in the existence of god(s), yet settle for it relatively is a threat that god(s) do exist in view that they only don't have the certainty to assert with one hundred% actuality that they do no longer.

When I was an agnostic I bowed my head respectfully. Being respectful makes no one a hypocrite.

Like others, I sit quietly until they're done.

If they ask me to say grace, I decline. If they insist, and won't take no for an answer, I say the Jewish Ha-motzi. They generally don't ask me again after that.

It doesn't happen to me very often, except at rare family holiday gatherings. Like everyone else, I just sit and wait. I do not close my eyes. I just look at my plate or the table. My hands are usually in my lap, so I don't fold them. My least favorite is when my cousin and her family insist we all hold hands. They have little kids. I hold their hands, but still do not close my eyes.

Wow story of my life! Thanksgivng is coming up and saying grace will happen. I don't do anything because everyone has their headed bowed and their eyes closed. So i just sit and say to myself how stupid they sound.

Be quite while they say grace. No body is really paying much attention to you so don't worry about it.

I bow my head out of respect. I don't respond with Amen or anything like that.

I just let them proceed. I am respectful of their beliefs. I find them very silly but I don't share that with them.

Atheist