Best way to turn down an invitation to church?

[Anonymous]

Neighbors who we like socially are very religious and have invited us to come to church with them. We are not religious. What is the nicest way we can say no without offending them?

[Anonymous]

Say, "thank you for the invitation but we like to spend weekends doing xyz - spending time with family, going somewhere, etc..."

- signed a person who goes to church

[Anonymous]

"Thanks, we're not religious."

[Anonymous]

No thank you, but we'd love to have you over for dinner/go see Christmas lights with you/go to a swinging party with you/get together for hot chocolate.

[Anonymous]

No thank you, how kind of you to offer .

Just like you would politely turn down any offer

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone! We went with the "no thanks but we would love to do xx with you soon". We don't have to explain ourselves, but we like to see them for other things! Thanks for all the good advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone! We went with the "no thanks but we would love to do xx with you soon". We don't have to explain ourselves, but we like to see them for other things! Thanks for all the good advice!

If that is the cases, why did you come on here to ask how to simply say "No Thanks"????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No thank you, but we'd love to have you over for dinner/go see Christmas lights with you/go to a swinging party with you/get together for hot chocolate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone! We went with the "no thanks but we would love to do xx with you soon". We don't have to explain ourselves, but we like to see them for other things! Thanks for all the good advice!

If that is the cases, why did you come on here to ask how to simply say "No Thanks"????

Not the OP, but sometimes under the pressure of the moment getting a third party opinion can help.

Now, as far as the PP is concerned, the question is, since the OP was polite enough to come back and say thank you, why are you being an ass?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say, "thank you for the invitation but we like to spend weekends doing xyz - spending time with family, going somewhere, etc..."

- signed a person who goes to church

This rely didn't sit well with me. I know what you meant but it can come off very condescending. It could sound like it demeans the decision to go to church services and implies that the people issuing the invitation are not taking the time for those other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Say, "thank you for the invitation but we like to spend weekends doing xyz - spending time with family, going somewhere, etc..."

- signed a person who goes to church

This rely didn't sit well with me. I know what you meant but it can come off very condescending. It could sound like it demeans the decision to go to church services and implies that the people issuing the invitation are not taking the time for those other things.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Say, "thank you for the invitation but we like to spend weekends doing xyz - spending time with family, going somewhere, etc..."

- signed a person who goes to church

This rely didn't sit well with me. I know what you meant but it can come off very condescending. It could sound like it demeans the decision to go to church services and implies that the people issuing the invitation are not taking the time for those other things.

No it didn't. You're being sensitive. Many people feel compelled to offer a reason when turning down an invitation. That is all this poster suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Say, "thank you for the invitation but we like to spend weekends doing xyz - spending time with family, going somewhere, etc..."

- signed a person who goes to church

This rely didn't sit well with me. I know what you meant but it can come off very condescending. It could sound like it demeans the decision to go to church services and implies that the people issuing the invitation are not taking the time for those other things.

What if someone invited you to go hiking on sunday and you said "no, we prefer to spend sunday morning going to church" -- would that be condescending?

Or is it just condescending to suggest that something might be important to someone than going to church?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Say, "thank you for the invitation but we like to spend weekends doing xyz - spending time with family, going somewhere, etc..."

- signed a person who goes to church

This rely didn't sit well with me. I know what you meant but it can come off very condescending. It could sound like it demeans the decision to go to church services and implies that the people issuing the invitation are not taking the time for those other things.

What if someone invited you to go hiking on sunday and you said "no, we prefer to spend sunday morning going to church" -- would that be condescending?

Or is it just condescending to suggest that something might be important to someone OTHER than going to church?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Say, "thank you for the invitation but we like to spend weekends doing xyz - spending time with family, going somewhere, etc..."

- signed a person who goes to church

This rely didn't sit well with me. I know what you meant but it can come off very condescending. It could sound like it demeans the decision to go to church services and implies that the people issuing the invitation are not taking the time for those other things.

No it didn't. You're being sensitive. Many people feel compelled to offer a reason when turning down an invitation. That is all this poster suggested.

It's a dumb explanation/justification, though. Church is an hour out of your day on a Sunday morning. It IS spending time with family, and few places are open on Sunday morning anyway. So, it's sort of a goofy excuse.