Would you holiday in a faith based resort if you're not religious?

[brittanyfairies]

I've found a holiday that I would very much like to go on. It's very activity based including water sports which is what draws me - basically it appears to be like a Club Med Holiday but half the price. However, it's a Christian based resort; there are prayers in the morning and a minister will speak in the evenings, I am not religious and don't really have faith.

I was brought up to go to Sunday School and I did have faith as a child and as an adult. It was very important to me that I was married in Church and that my children were baptised. However, in the last 20 years I have lost my faith. I can't have faith in a god who allows these atrocities we see on a daily basis. This has been a gradual thing. I find my inner peace in nature, the sea and sport which is why I was drawn to this particular holiday.

I do have what I believe are Christian values and I try to live my life with these, as I was taught from an early age, and actually believe it's a good guideline for life. I listen to the Jehovah's Witnesses when they come to the house, I don't agree with their message but I understand that their faith is to spread the message of their beliefs. I quite enjoy Pause for Thought on the radio. I think I would enjoy the sporting and water based activities of the holiday, but I feel a bit of a fraud and wonder if my lack of faith would be noticed. There will be 70 people present at the hotel at the same time as me.

I have until tomorrow night to confirm my reservation - should I go?

I would go! There will probably be family members along who also don’t have faith. We go to Christian Camps, and there are always husbands/wives/older DC who are there for the family holiday not the faith. There will be people who skip chunks of the programme.
You may want to prepare some answers in case you find yourself in conversation that gets on to the subject. Something about, having been in the past but having drifted away.

If you can be respectful to the faith of the rest of the group, then why not. You sound fairly at home in that environment though no longer believing.

Presumably the parts where they do prayers and meetings etc are not compulsory? As long as you wouldn't feel peer pressure or be made to feel unwelcome in any way if you skipped those parts, it should be ok?

I personally wouldn't just because I think I'd find it a bit awkward being around people who'd chosen a faith based holiday and I've no interest in that faith. Or I'm not practicing it. I'd worry they might try and convert me?

And I’d love a link, if you wouldn’t mind.

Yes, if you cam be respectful as a pp said. If you go as raging antitheists and start snort laughing about believing in the purple flying spaghetti monster, obviously that would be a dick move!

But it doesn't sound like you are like that

So you're just going for the water sports really ?

I would, I like meeting new people.

I wouldn’t, only because I think people that believe in God are a bit nuts.
And some (not all) nauseatingly pious.

Well yes, that's what I said in my post. It's how I found this holiday.

I'm not anti-religion, my best friend is Catholic and has great faith, my mum took great solace in her faith when my dad died last year, I had to find my peace in a different way. I have no problem listening to other people's opinions and a great Minister can be really interesting. It's just I think I would feel a fraud.

I spoke to the company on the phone today and they were really nice and didn't push the religious aspect at all, just made me aware of it. I was very clear that it was the sailing that had got my attention.

I don’t think I would. As soon as they realise your faith is lapsed, I think they’ll be very keen to make it all about discussing the reasons why and trying to convince you that those reasons are wrong. The break becomes less about the water sports and more about trying to show you the error of your ways. They’ll be asking to pray with you and you’ll have to be very firm not to get involved in those conversations.

Also, this is a break for them, where everyone is of their faith and will fully and openly express their beliefs. It would be almost intruding on them to be going just for the water sports, when there are holidays that concentrate on that without the faith aspect.

No, it wouldn't sit well with me.

Obviously I wouldn't run around shouting 'it's all bollocks' but even thinking it would be disrespectful, especially if I were benefiting from some Christian organisation subsidy.

I wouldn’t, personally. The prayer and sermon aspects will presumably not be compulsory; but the majority of people who specifically choose to go on a faith-based holiday with other Christians where worship is a focus of each day are likely to be people for whom faith is a central part of their lives, as opposed to being just people who happen to have a faith. If you were hoping for a social element then I’d expect many people there to want to talk about their faith, which will make your lack of it conspicuous and may make you feel a bit awkward having to say so.

I’m sure most people will be perfectly nice and have other interests too - but why not look for other trips with similar activities which aren’t faith-based?

No, I wouldn't. It would put me right off.

God no. I mean, it's not as though there aren't lots of resorts that offer watersports without the Godbothering. Why do you want to spend your holidays with 70 Christians who are doctrinaire enough to need sermons with their windsurfing?

No. I wouldn't.

My friend went in a bus trip to Lapland with church. She isn’t a believer. They had some praying in bus and religious evening happenings. She didn’t join every every evening but no one said anything. She enjoyed the trip very much.

Absolutely not

Is that Oakhall? I’ve been on their holidays in the past and really enjoyed them. The people were very normal and the religious aspect was not really pushed hard.
It has a bit of a reputation as being a good way for single Christians to meet a partner (well it used to anyway)

I was once more or less forced to. I had booked a b&b in Cornwall, then a train strike threatened for the day I was to go down. I had to go a day early and find somewhere for one night at short notice, which turned out to be a methodist hotel (no bar, and some communal hymn-singing).

But I wouldn't worry. A phrase I use to describe my attitude to religion, which you might find useful if anyone asks, is 'reverent agnostic'. I also have known people whose religious views as expressed in writing are fairly narrow, and intolerant of anyone deviating from them, but who are perfectly pleasant socially. I think you'll be fine.

They might be delighted to think of you as possibly finding your way back to the faith. And you might find it interesting. Go for it.

Which would make total sense if you're a Christian who wants to find a partner, but the OP just wants watersports, which she can have without the Jesus quotient.

No

Would you be going alone or taking family with you?

I don’t think I’d do this, particularly not if I were taking my family away too.
I’m an atheist and while respectful of others views and religions i really don’t want to be a part of it in any way. So it would be a no from me.

The only reason I wouldn’t go is an ex boss of mine was a practising Christian and went on these holidays and to Christian music festivals. He wasn’t openly judgy if you didn’t go to church or practise a faith but I guessed he and his family took their faith seriously.

What would you do if someone talked to you about Christianity, avoid them?

It’s because it’s cheap is why OP is tempted.