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.

"Jehovah Witnesses are Christians."

Not in the eyes of most Christian churches. Pretty much the sine qua non of what most Christian churches that recognise each other as such is the Nicene Creed, which will contain words to the effect of:

"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father."

JWs don't agree with that, holding that God created Jesus like a angel, which is essentially Arianism. JWs may regard themselves as Christian, but few Christian churches acknowledge as Christian any organisation which doesn't hold to the Nicene creed. At a practical level, JWs won't fit into the "other Trinitarian churches" category in admission to CofE churches, because it isn't Trinitarian.

"Not in the eyes of most Christian churches"

but in the eyes of some, including their own.

Can you see if they could go later - ratehr than on sunday morning - if they go twice on sundays then they might be willing to go in the afetrnoon - and you could have breakfast with them and then drive home in the afetrnoon???

But think it's a bit unreasonable to ask thhem not to go completely.

To the OP: I know exactly what you mean, but asking him to stay home won't do any good. My mum has skipped church exactly once when I've been visiting and my dad, never. In 18 years. I feel hurt by it as well but there is simply nothing you can do.

To all the rest of you: get off your high horses. Religion is not all that and not everyone respects your beliefs. I don't respect Islam or Judaism either. Or football fans or anyone else who is so obsessed with their way of life that they can't be a bit flexible for guests.

I like my brother very much, I probably get on better with my sister in law, she is lovely. They are both kind generous people although I dont think that has anything to do with their religion, just think they are nice people.

We differ in our views. I'm not religions, he is. I would rather spend the sunday morning all together, having fun. I know for sure their children would rather play with their cousins,having fun. My brother and SIL go to church because that is what they do. For me, there is a choice, for them, it appears they are obligated.

I still agree with Tokyo. Especially as she saves me so much typing.

No actually there is more to it than that really. Tokyo states the position. JWs would not align themselves withwhat we consider to be mainstream christian dominations I think.

But tis all beside the point.

Maybe the OP should just ask her brother and put up with it if they still want to go to church while they have vistors. I used to be pretty evangelical and know what it's like to be in that mindset.

letsblow

What a rude ignorant post. You sound totally self centred not to mention intolerant. People saying you should respect other's religious beliefs, even if it's not for you, are not on their 'high horse'.

ASAIK, JW's do not worship Jesus, and don't count him as the Son of God and indivisible from God, therefore they are not Christians. They don't acknowledge Christmas Day.

Perhaps the OP could invite the family to her house next time.

I am a JW. All of you who aren't are going to hell to be poked by black devils. Fact.

To all the rest of you: get off your high horses. Religion is not all that and not everyone respects your beliefs

She's landing on her brother in his own home ffs. In his home, he gets to choose how he spends his morning. If the op doesn't like it then they can visit at another time.

Just talk to your brother and SIL about it in a non confrontational way. If you really cannot be straight with them....Would they consider a lovely day out with a picnic and blah blah blah on Sunday? The children would love it...and see what reaction you get. They might say, well I'm on such and such rota this weekend but I might be able to reorganise. Or they might say no and that is their perogative.

YANBU and letsblow - I totally agree with you.

They dont see each other very much and OP will have travelled a long way to see them. Can't they give church a miss just that once? Annoys me when religion just trumps everything and people pull those sanctimonious (sp) type faces whenever its supremacy is questioned.

Hullygully

What a silly thing to say. And you wonder why the JW get a bad press.

"but in the eyes of some, including their own."

Whose apart from their own? No Trinitarian church would and I can think of several reasons why the Unitarian church wouldn't either ("personal pre-existence" is the main one, if you're up for a bit of theology).

i wasn't the one stating that most churches didn't recognise them as being a christian faith. you stated that, implying that some do.

Animation - why don't you respect my beliefs? It's no more than the truth.

You are NOT being unreasonable - I have no time for people who take their spirituality to such extremes, and ignoring all practical day to day business - like spending time with the family. Whoever your God is - I'm sure He wants you to socialise and be nice to each other. Spirituality doesn't mean you need to go all weird on everyone and lose perspective.

I don't get why the three hours thing is such an issue. As a child I attended a very ordinary methodist church. Left home at 9.30am to arrive around 9.45am. Service started at 10.00am and ended at 12.00noon. Left around 12.10-12.15noon arrived home around 12.30noon.

That is 3 hours.

What truth? That sounds like cultish emotional blackmail to me.

PMSL @ going to church on a Sunday being "taking their spirituality to such extremes". This thread is hilarious.