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This is a very unrealistic episode, imo. I have never heard an atheist objecting to a family praying over their food. I think that it would have been better if they had switched it up and had a Muslim or Hindu family praying and a Christian objecting. They usually switch things up more on this show than they did in this episode. I would like to see us write to them and ask if they would do something more.
If you haven't heard of or seen this show, here is a description from the website
Quote:
"When you think no one is watching… what would you do? Using hidden cameras, What Would You Do? establishes everyday scenarios and then captures people's reactions. Whether people are compelled to act or mind their own business, John Quiñones reports on their split-second and often surprising decision-making process."
What would happen if they switched it around? Have the atheist make some loud public declaration about there being no deity before consuming her meal. Would anyone object to that? Would anyone side with the atheist?
The obvious solution is to enjoy your meal in public without anyone introducing theories of the operations of the cosmos. The faithful can pray silently, can't they? Is the deity in question unable to receive prayer unless it is spoken out loud?
What would happen if they switched it around? Have the atheist make some loud public declaration about there being no deity before consuming her meal. Would anyone object to that? Would anyone side with the atheist?
The obvious solution is to enjoy your meal in public without anyone introducing theories of the operations of the cosmos. The faithful can pray silently, can't they? Is the deity in question unable to receive prayer unless it is spoken out loud?
I object to anybody being loud or butting into a stranger's conversation for any reason when I am eating out.
As long as the praying is at or below the normal noise level for that particular restaurant, I would have no more objection to it than I would to a conversation about baseball stats.
Not my job to police other people's dinner conversation.
What would happen if they switched it around? Have the atheist make some loud public declaration about there being no deity before consuming her meal. Would anyone object to that? Would anyone side with the atheist?
The obvious solution is to enjoy your meal in public without anyone introducing theories of the operations of the cosmos. The faithful can pray silently, can't they? Is the deity in question unable to receive prayer unless it is spoken out loud?
I agree about a switch-a-roo show, but the long-winded atheist declaration should involve a family meditating on the declarations with their children in normal conversation noise level. Then we can see if any Christians try to get offended or to "help" the children find Jesus.
I watched that ( it followed Shark Tank, which I like ) and what pissed me off was the decision to depict an atheist as an ill-mannered , obnoxious person, almost as if that was a generally accepted thing.
And to use the phrase that the praying "made me uncomfortable". Who the .......would ever say that?
I had a situation a few days ago that was slightly uncomfortable at a company lunch. When the food came, I was in a conversation with a few people near me. Most of the food had not come yet, but the guy across from me got his and leaned over and began praying while I was speaking. I wasn't being long winded; he would only have had to wait maybe 5 seconds or so. He wasn't very loud, but loud enough for it to be an issue. The look I got from others beside him made it pretty obvious that if I continued to speak over his interruption I would be the "bad guy". In situations like that, I almost feel like the person is saying "Look at me. I pray." to those around him rather than expressing gratitude to a deity.
I had a situation a few days ago that was slightly uncomfortable at a company lunch. When the food came, I was in a conversation with a few people near me. Most of the food had not come yet, but the guy across from me got his and leaned over and began praying while I was speaking. I wasn't being long winded; he would only have had to wait maybe 5 seconds or so. He wasn't very loud, but loud enough for it to be an issue. The look I got from others beside him made it pretty obvious that if I continued to speak over his interruption I would be the "bad guy". In situations like that, I almost feel like the person is saying "Look at me. I pray." to those around him rather than expressing gratitude to a deity.
....or said his Grace silently.
I do understand the position you were put in and probably would have stopped talking too, just so as not to make a scene, but know, without a doubt, I would have been looking at him all the while
with the same expression given to a person being rude for any reason.
I'm sure, given it was a work related situation, anything more than that may not have been advisable.
In situations like that, I almost feel like the person is saying "Look at me. I pray." to those around him rather than expressing gratitude to a deity.
What possible other motivation would there be to pray aloud in front of others who may or may not share your beliefs?
When society was more homogenous around this issue you could use the excuse, semi-plausibly, that you were "setting a good example" for others, but even that is inherently controlling and judgmental.
As a matter of fact Jesus explicitly taught that it is better to pray in secret, and addressed precisely this issue.
Quote:
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Such Christians ignore one of the more sensible bits of advice Jesus is said to have given, assuming for the sake of argument that prayer itself is of any use in the first place.
....or said his Grace silently.
I do understand the position you were put in and probably would have stopped talking too, just so as not to make a scene, but know, without a doubt, I would have been looking at him all the while
with the same expression given to a person being rude for any reason.
I'm sure, given it was a work related situation, anything more than that may not have been advisable.
I was faux respectful, quietly waited and acted as if it never happened; I was just a paused program for a few seconds. It did make me more aware and I noticed a couple of others pause very briefly with bent head before eating but they were silent and waited for a private moment (or what is as close as you can get to one in that setting). Others praying doesn't bother me when it isn't intrusive. I even thank people when they tell me they will be praying for me or people I care about; that is their way of saying they care.
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) and what pissed me off was the decision to depict an atheist as an ill-mannered , obnoxious person, almost as if that was a generally accepted thing.
