To ask my brother and family not to go to church when we visit

[Trifle]

I plan on visiting my brother, sil and their 2 children for a weekend in September with my 2 ds's. All the children get on fabulously and really enjoy eachothers company although, due to distance apart, we dont meet up as often as is liked.

My brother and sil are deeply religious to the point of fanaticism. They read the bible every day, pray religiously, attend church at least 2 if not 3 times a week, sometimes twice on a sunday (obviously the message doesnt get through first time).

Now, if we visit at the weekend and stay overnight, would IBU to ask them not to go to church on a sunday morning as the whole thing takes about 3 hours and we just end up hanging around waiting for them to come back. This defeats the object of the whole trip if we are there to see them plus I also think it is rude to abandon your guests.

SpeedyGonzalez - "Oh and Mrs is right: religious observance is nothing like a hobby. Nothing like it at all."

I think you need to meet some railway or steam buffs, some fox hunters and, yes, even some football fans, and then explain the differences as an objective observer. Just because something is "religious" does not mean that it has to be more important than something that is not.

I have said on numerous occasions on this thread that I believe family life is more important than religion and I defy you to prove that I am wrong.

SpeedyGonzalez - sorry I might have misinterpreted your previous post.

Oops sorry, x-posts, I was applauding the post before your fox-hunting one! I posted before your foxy post appeared!

Just to clarify my position, I've already said that I think the family should happily miss church for one week so as to enjoy quality time with the OP and her family. However, as a separate point, (if you like, outside of this discussion about whether religion should be treated as different from a weekend hobby), having a religious belief is different from a hobby. I am not comparing the importance of people's pursuits here; I am simply describing the nature of religion.

It is, at its best, all about spending a lifetime transforming every aspect of your mind and soul into the very best that you can be, and sharing that best with those around you (like your visiting sibling, ahem! ). In this way it is not like supporting your favourite team - though many do so with a 'religious' fervour and devotion. It is, and goes, far deeper than any hobby I know of.