Hi. I'm usually on the GP board but had a question and thought I would pop over here - and I'll probably be over here more anyway since I'm due in October.
H and I are invited to a baptism in a week or so. The background is that we are athiest and these friends are devout Catholics. This has never been any sort of deal but the wife is always afraid of "offending us" (though we assure her we are not) when people in her family say they are praying for us when we were TTC and having issues.
So the invite says the baptism is at "12:15 (following an 11:00 am mass)". H and I assumed we would go at 12:15 and not attend the whole Sunday mass. We have no issues with a church and always attend other religious ceremonies like weddings, funerals, and other baptisms.
Friend mentioned to me that we don't have to go to the church, but can meet them at the restaurant for the reception only" I said don't be silly, we have no issues attending the church" but she kept insisting. I thought at first she was just trying to make sure we didn't feel pressured to go.
But then she texted me to confirm that we were attending and it said "you guys are going to the baptism reception, right?" I said yes, but now I'm wondering if all this stress about having us not at the church is coming from somewhere else.
So now I'm thinking that maybe the family, that knows we are atheist, would not want us there? The couple are much more "lax" than the rest of the family so maybe we offend the family by being who we are? We don't walk around bashing religion or even telling people we are atheist unless it comes up in conversation. But my friend has let her family know we don't believe b/c she feels bad when they say things about god or praying to us. (and I always assure her we don't mind!)
I may be reading too much into this, but I am wondering, if you were in my shoes, if you would just go to the reception or attend the baptism at 12:15. I always found it rude anyway to skip ceremonies just for the reception.
haha, yes, we all don't want to offend each other. I'll still plan to go at 12:15 I guess. I mean, if the family is upset at us being there, oh well, these are friends of ours.
Post by teatimefor2 on Jul 27, 2014 14:53:29 GMT -5
I'm catholic and we have friends who are atheists. They typically come to services, but we are fairly liberal. I might just say, yes we will join you at the reception. We would like to go to the service to support you, however, let me know if you prefer we just go to the reception.
Don't overthink/ don't read too much. Unless she SAYS "my family has a problem", Id still go as planned. "Yes, we're going to the reception. See you at 12:15 for the baptism!".