Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

You are too weird.

Do you also take it personally if the sun doesn't shine every day?

geez. i've been invited to services and celebrations of every major religion and umpteen christian denominations. i know some of those inviters would be delighted if i would convert to their religion/denomination; others were simply sharing something important to them. it has never occurred to me to be offended.

fwiw, i am presbyterian and have invited folks to my own services only if they have expressed an interest in my beliefs. though i have routinely invited folks of all faiths to celebrate christmas with us. i'm pretty sure no one was ever offended. or converted for that matter. but they had some good food and excellent music.

OP, if you're not interested, just say "no thanks, we have a church we love" per the previous posters suggestion. or if you don't go to church, "no thanks, we're not really church-going folks." i don't know why anyone would be offended by a refusal. if you're not interested in discussing religion and you're worried that they'll take a "no" as an invitation to harangue you, well, they're annoying and you probably don't want to be friends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

How is it considered rude to invite someone somewhere?

Not that poster, and whole I don't think it's rude to invite someone to church, I do think its the first step in proselytizing. And proselytizing is definitely rude.

I've been invited to plenty of places I didn't want to go. I was once invited to go shooting at a gun range. I didn't take it as the first sign of attack on my personal beliefs. I just said "no thank you."

Religion is different. Most religions require their members to actively invite others to the faith.

LOL at this. Of course,I mostly know Unitarians and Episcopalians, but their religions do not "require their members to actively invite others to the faith."

It's really funny to me how much immaturity and defensiveness there is around religion, both from those who practice and those who don't.

They are two of the smallest denominations in the US, though. And as an Episcopalian, I know its membership has dropped significantly. 3.5 million in the 60s down to fewer than 2 million today. In large part, they headed to the evangelical church across the way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

How is it considered rude to invite someone somewhere?

Not that poster, and whole I don't think it's rude to invite someone to church, I do think its the first step in proselytizing. And proselytizing is definitely rude.

I've been invited to plenty of places I didn't want to go. I was once invited to go shooting at a gun range. I didn't take it as the first sign of attack on my personal beliefs. I just said "no thank you."

Religion is different. Most religions require their members to actively invite others to the faith.

LOL at this. Of course,I mostly know Unitarians and Episcopalians, but their religions do not "require their members to actively invite others to the faith."

It's really funny to me how much immaturity and defensiveness there is around religion, both from those who practice and those who don't.

I'm not religious and I wouldn't accept an invitation to a church function but I also wouldn't consider it rude. I think it's nice that a friend wants to share something that makes him/her happy. I would just politely decline using pp's words or say I'm not a churchgoer, but thanks for the invite. No need to get all offended.

Anonymous wrote:And no one is required to accept that invitation in order to maintain a freindship.

Nobody is saying that. Just that it's rude.

And no one is required to accept that invitation in order to maintain a freindship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

How is it considered rude to invite someone somewhere?

Not that poster, and whole I don't think it's rude to invite someone to church, I do think its the first step in proselytizing. And proselytizing is definitely rude.

I've been invited to plenty of places I didn't want to go. I was once invited to go shooting at a gun range. I didn't take it as the first sign of attack on my personal beliefs. I just said "no thank you."

Religion is different. Most religions require their members to actively invite others to the faith.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

How is it considered rude to invite someone somewhere?

Not that poster, and whole I don't think it's rude to invite someone to church, I do think its the first step in proselytizing. And proselytizing is definitely rude.

I've been invited to plenty of places I didn't want to go. I was once invited to go shooting at a gun range. I didn't take it as the first sign of attack on my personal beliefs. I just said "no thank you."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

How is it considered rude to invite someone somewhere?

Not that poster, and whole I don't think it's rude to invite someone to church, I do think its the first step in proselytizing. And proselytizing is definitely rude.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

How is it considered rude to invite someone somewhere?

I disagree. I like to know where my friends and neighbors go to church. We take that into account when choosing a church. I like my kids to have friends there and it's great to find out about children's programs in advance.

I find it silly that so many are hypersensitive about religion. It's ridiculous that I can't say to you, "hey my church is great, want to come sometime?" You'd have ZERO problem if I said something similar about an event at dc's school.

This region is all about networking! Why not share info about good religious institutions too?

Anonymous wrote:"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

+1

Privately, I would be thinking any manner of awful things about them. I realize they're mostly trying to share their great experience, but it's so incredibly rude.

"Thanks for the invitation, but we already belong to a church that we love."

Ok so I've grown up in the same area for almost 30 years & now my kids are growing up here. I never knew the area to have strong chruch going community. However I've received more than a few Church Invites from people parents who I run in the same circles with. How do I politely decline being as though I have church that I attend when I do.