In a recent Reddit post, a user found herself facing a dilemma surrounding the act of prayer before meals. Here’s what happened.
Her Friend Is a Christian
Emily’s friend and her family are devout Christians, whereas Emily comes from a Buddhist home.
She Is Not Religious
She is not very religious, but she does go to temple and do what her mom tells her to do.
The Hangout
The story began last weekend when Emily and her friend had planned a hangout at her friend’s house.
Things Took a Turn
As Emily arrived with some food, they were both hungry and eager to enjoy their meal. But before they sat down at the dining table, her friend asked Emily if they could say a prayer.
It Was Awkward
Emily hesitated and remained silent, prompting her friend to ask again and explain that she wouldn’t have to say anything, just close her eyes and press her hands together while she led the prayer.
She Gave Her Reasons
Emily responded with an awkward smile and explained that she is Buddhist.
This Was Not Common
In her religious upbringing, praying before meals is not a common practice. Instead, they express gratitude towards the people who prepared and served the meal.
It Was Disrespectful
Emily voiced her concern that participating in another religion’s practice might be disrespectful to her own beliefs.
She Would Wait Until the Prayer Finished
She reassured her friend that she would wait for her to finish praying before she started eating.
Her Friend Asked Again
But her friend became visibly upset and continued to persuade Emily to join in the prayer.
She Declined
Emily respectfully declined once again, expressing her discomfort with participating in a practice that conflicted with her own religious beliefs. Her friend sighed and began her prayer while Emily patiently waited.
She Felt Bad
The experience left Emily with an unsettled feeling, affecting her enjoyment of the meal.
This Hasn’t Happened Before
This was her first time hanging out at her friend’s house, and the first time her friend had asked her to pray before a meal.
Emily felt caught off guard because, in previous outings with friends, she hadn’t witnessed her friend praying or requesting others to join her.
She Felt Guilty
Despite her efforts to brush it off, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt and wonder if she had acted poorly. Reflecting on the situation, Emily began questioning whether she was in the wrong.
She Wasn’t Wrong
She took to Reddit to ask if she was wrong for what she did and several Redditors sided with her saying she was not in the wrong.
Her Friend Didn’t Respect Her
A Reddit user wrote, “Staying quiet and respectfully waiting for her to finish before eating was the right move. Her pressuring you to participate was incredibly disrespectful after you declined.“
“Asking you once was fine, but she should have left it at that.“
Trans Athlete Injured Multiple Female Players With Strong “Manly Tackles” – Igniting a Fiery Debate Surrounding Safety and Fairness
Recent events in the rugby community have sparked a heated debate surrounding safety and fairness when transgender players compete against cisgender athletes. Here’s the full story. Trans Athlete Injured Multiple Female Players With Strong “Manly Tackles” – Igniting a Fiery Debate Surrounding Safety and Fairness
“Stop Looking At My Shirt!”– Intriguing Tale of a Provocative T-Shirt, a Religious Uncle, and a Silent Estrangement
In a recent family gathering, an 18-year-old girl found herself in a predicament when her choice of t-shirt clashed with her religious uncle’s beliefs. Here’s what happened. “Stop Looking At My Shirt!”– Intriguing Tale of a Provocative T-Shirt, a Religious Uncle, and a Silent Estrangement
“That Ain’t No Meteor” – Enigmatic Emerald Inferno Seen in the Sky Ignites UFO Frenzy and Cryptic Conspiracies
A ring camera in Gretna, Louisiana, captured a green fireball streaking through the sky, sparking UFO panic and conspiracy theories among locals, despite scientific explanations attributing it to a meteor. “That Ain’t No Meteor” – Enigmatic Emerald Inferno Seen in the Sky Ignites UFO Frenzy and Cryptic Conspiracies
“Daring Leap of Faith” Man Sells Everything and Bets His Entire Life on a Single Roulette Spin in Vegas – Was It Worth It?
In the realm of daring gambles and high-stakes risks, few stories are as captivating as that of Ashley Revell. In 2004, this British man took a leap of faith that would not only test the limits of his luck but also reshape the trajectory of his life in ways he could never have imagined. Here’s the full story. “Daring Leap of Faith” Man Sells Everything and Bets His Entire Life on a Single Roulette Spin in Vegas – Was It Worth It?
Heavily Tattooed 46-Year-Old Mother Claims “Rejections” Due to Her Tattoos, While She Continues to Struggle to Make Ends Meet
In an interview with the Daily Star, one mum from Wales shared her heartbreaking story of rejection. Although she claims to have the determination and drive to find a job, she claims that everywhere rejects her because of the 800 tattoos that she has plastered all over her body. Heavily Tattooed 46-Year-Old Mother Claims “Rejections” Due to Her Tattoos, While She Continues to Struggle to Make Ends Meet
The post Respectful Boundaries or Disrespectful? – Woman Sparks Controversy by Declining to Join Her Friend’s Prayer, Citing Discomfort With a Practice That Clashes With Her Beliefs first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Krakenimages.com. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit