Atheists in church ceremonies?

I sit to be polite. It's disrespectful to trivialize someone else's sincere beliefs by playing pretend. It's weird how you think demanding reverence is polite. How would it be if I had a ceremony and I demanded everyone there acknowledge that gods are imaginary?

edit:

A thumbs-down for not indulging in a double standard? wonderful.

I have only been to one christening and it is a bone of contention between my daughter and me that i did not go to my grandchildren's christenings. I passed on these not because i am an atheist but on a point of principle! To me each of the events would have been a farce. Whilst both my daughter and my son - in - law would describe them selves as christians were they asked, the only time they go to a church is for weddings, christenings and funerals. As i understand it, a part of the christening ceremony is asking the congregation present to assist with the spiritual needs of the child {or something similar} and as most of the guests invited were not church goers the whole thing would be meaningless and a farce. My daughter is convinced that the real reason was because i am an atheist but she is wrong, had she and her friends been church goers i would have attended.

When i go to weddings and funerals in a church i follow the physical motions of the congregation but obviously do not say any prayers or sing any hymns. I treat the ceremonies and the church with respect because whilst i do not believe in god myself i respect any ones right to their own beliefs and that respect extends to their place of worship. I do not try to convert anyone to my way of thinking.

I don't bless myself or sing hymns, but otherwise I stand up or sit down as requested. Christenings I tend to refuse to go to unless there is some overwhelming need for me to go - like looking after other children.

If you can't be polite during the ceremony then I think its best not to go.

You have to do a certain amount there otherwise it would be so disrespectful, so I kneel and maybe bow my head but don't say the words to the prayers or cross myself or anything. If I was really against having to do it then I wouldn't go and just go to the reception or whatever afterwards, after all you're in their holy place so you can't agree to go and then complain that it's not your views! It's the same as someone coming into my home and calling me an evil soul who's going to hell! You can enjoy things like wedding services without having to believe in it.

I have never been invited to a christening, but I have been to church several times with friends. I just do what everybody else is doing, otherwise I look like an *** who shouldn't have even bothered going in the first place.

I will stand when other people are standing etc but otherwise I do not take part (i.e. sing or whatever). If people are called forward to be blessed I stay sat. I did make an exception for my neice's Christening though as I was godmother and it meant a lot to my sister for me to fully take part even though she knows I do not believe.

I have relatives who are still religious, so I occasionally still attend religious rites for things like weddings, baptisms and funerals. They all know I don't believe, but I have the familial need to join in now and again, and I'm sure they appreciate it. I was brought up Catholic, so I know what the Church rites are and what they mean - except they used Latin in the days when I was religious, but they don't anymore. I behave as expected as a mark of respect to everyone else present; and I actually enjoy it.

I sit through the entire ceremony if I am in the pews.

I follow the tradition if I am part of the wedding party.

I usually sing the hymns as some of them I like but not much else. However unlike someone who believes in particular religion an atheist has no beliefs so it does not matter what he or she does in the church it is meaningless

I don't go to christening's but whenever i go to a wedding i don't engage in activities that would go against my beliefs(just as many christians or muslims wouldn't do certain things)it's called having integrity.