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?

No I wouldn't. I'd feel a fraud and out of place. I've never had 'faith'.

Do you know what religious group is hosting the holiday?

Christians aren't a homogenous group and there are different denominations, these type of holidays usually have an Evangelical flavour.

Most of these holidays involve some Bible Study, has that been listed on the programme, and would you be prepared to do that ?

I'd be travelling alone.

I'd have no problem if someone wanted to speak to me about their faith, each to their own, but I can't see how it would come up though outside of the talk in the evening unless someone wanted to continue the conversation. I'm not anti religion at all, I just don't believe in God.

Also, I'm not one for socialising in the evening, so I'd probably have my dinner and take myself off to my room to read a book or get an early night,

You don’t sound like someone without religion.

I’ve never had religion and couldn’t think of anything worse.

But you sound as though it wouldn’t bother you.

I have a very similar experience with religion to you so I know where you're coming from and would be worried about the same things. If you really want to do the watersports couldn't you just skip the prayer sessions/socialising?

Absolutely not. There’s plenty of other options where they won’t be out to brainwash you.

No way. Imagine all the odd bods that would also be there.

I've inadvertently ended up in Christian hotels (twice on separate occasions). Both times have been fine: nice hotels and hosts, other guests mostly very friendly. The only thing noticeable was having to say prayers before the meals.

Thanks to the people who drew my attention to whether I would be expected to participate in bible study and what kind of Ministers would be speaking, so I checked the website. It's possible to participate in as much or as little of the Ministry as possible, it's not obligatory.

Most of the Ministers are either CofE or Baptist.

I am of the opinion that religious people don't try and brainwash others, I imagine that they will expect the people there to share similar values and beliefs. Whilst I share the values, I'm not into the beliefs.

I am also not blessed with shit loads of money to find a different hotel and actually can't find any other offering of water sport on this particular island.

Given you clearly have an affinity with the faith, I think it’s fine to go.
I think if you were a professed atheist or a different religion it would be wrong, as well as uncomfortable for you.

You’ve been brought up in Christianity and it clearly still holds some value in your life, even if you’re not fully believing anymore, so I think that’s a bit different to an atheist or someone with a different religion going. I think you could go.

If it's Catholic fo for it, they will leave you alone. If evangelical aexpect them to take an interest on converting you

No one knows other people’s experience of faith anyway. There are as many different understandings of Faith as there are people practicing it. Ministers know in every congregation there are people who aren’t sure what they believe, or who don’t believe today, or believe today but won’t tomorrow.

No one on the holiday is going to be offended about what you believe.

Sure, but is whatever number of hundreds of pounds discount enough to make up for getting a side order of Jesus with your paddle-boarding.

I’m an atheist - I’ve been on plenty of retreats run by nuns.

And Gladstone’s Library is one of my favourite places in the world:

https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/

Of course you should go if it appeals to you.

Not a resort but there used to be a couple of Christian hotels in Jersey with daily services and other activities, always plenty of non-Christian guests too. Neither of them served alcohol but guests were welcome to bring wine with them to have with dinner.

I would, I could put up with religious aspects for a cheap holiday, and I'd join in happily with any singing because that's the thing I really miss from my church-going days.
My atheist DD is going to confirmation camp this summer just because she wants the experience of the camp, has zero interest in religion and won't be getting confirmed afterwards (she has been honest with the priest about this)

Not in my case. I went to a private girls convent school so have had enough religious holidays with the school. They weren’t that bad actually! But we were expected to go to a catholic church on a Sunday wherever we were for Mass come what may.

No I wouldn't. Not ever

Actually to be fair to the Catholic convent school I went to they didn’t try to convert me as I was Protestant (therefore damned anyway!). Apart from weekly mass and saints days and the like. And no, my best friend who’s Catholic has never tried to convert me, in fact the complete opposite.

Most UK schools were originally involved with the church, and even now, many schools are church schools, and people of all faiths and none go. I take the view it's interesting for my kids to learn about all faiths, and there's inspiring literature/architecture etc, and most of the basic teachings of all faiths are good for them to know. Philosophy shows us you can't prove/disprove anything through reason, so we might as well be respectful of others' beliefs if they don't hurt us, so as long as there's no harmful teaching, why not go? Makes no sense you can't go on a week long holiday when non Christians send their children to school for years!