AIBU? Am I being a bad host?

[Greenbeanmcgee]

A friend who lives on the other side of the country is going to be staying with me for a few days. I'm looking forward to it but she wants to attend church on the Sunday. That isn't a problem at all. I said that I'd have a nice lunch ready for her when she returns but she wants me to attend and won't stop asking.

I really don't want to go. I'm an Atheist and have no desire to attend church unless it's necessary. Also her particular style of church makes me extremely uncomfortable. Just a personal preference.
I could also use the time to get some work done.

So AIBU?

Why do you need to know people to go to church I moved area and I don’t know anyone in my church. I come in do my thing go home yo my FH. Especially as it’s only a one off. She needs to get over herself. YANBU

Absolutely right Op. I'm also an Atheist, but happy to accompany my DH to CofE church on civic occasions, when he asks. The point is that he asks - he doesn't demand. If a guest of mine insisted, then her invite would be resinded.

She's rude to insist. You are not a bad host, she's a bad guest! I would tell her to drop it or not bother coming at all

l may be being harsh here, but quite honestly l'd be cancelling the visit if she carried on behaving like that. lt's rude, selfish and disrespectful to you. By all means, have a faith, but that doesn't give anyone the right to foist it on anyone else.

@ReanimatedSGB "Crap peddling fuckwits"!! l'm crying here! Genius!!

She's totally rude. I'd tell her, 'Look, you're entitled to your beliefs, but I've invited you here as my friend. But if you're going to continually bamboozle me into going to your church when I've made it clear I don't want to go then you need to stay somewhere else. I'm not prepared to listen to religious talk at all so you need to decide if you're going to come over or not. Please let me know by tomorrow. Thanks.'

^^This

Or.."I said No. Stop asking when I already answered No. Or you won't be allowed to come stay with me at all"

Glad you've stuck to guns OP. She is being an extremely rude guest.

Just googled it . Yeesh. They teach prosperity theology (not real Christianity) and sound seriously culty on a number of other fronts.

You won't hear real Christian teaching there, so as a Christian, I'll say I'd strongly discourage anyone regardless of their beliefs not to visit this church.

And honestly, having hosted a friend like this (hadn't seen her in a long time, she went Jehovah), I'd back out of this because chances are she'll not be able to keep her trap shut.

CoS, which is more of a weekly social club than a religious denomination

I understand that’s your perspective Thistle but it is fairly offensive to present it as fact about the entire church...

Fuck that. YANBU

The fact she's staying with you is irrelevant. If she lived closer but still had no one to go with you wouldn't be obliged, so it shouldn't matter that you're hosting.

Stick to your guns 👍🏻

Show her this:

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/2851801/church-of-scotland-ban-destiny-gun-miracle-healer-exorcism-edinburgh/

(and then don't go)
She is being unreasonable and rude.

Tell her very clearly you will not be going to church and this is the last time you will discuss it. If she doesn't like it she can stay with someone else

This.

To be honest, I couldn't be friends with someone who seriously believes and takes part in the nonsense that is Destiny Church, let alone someone who wants to drag me there. Do you really want to spend time with this person, OP?

OMG, that Scottish Sun article . Clock the expensive suits and deep tans that their credulous followers are paying for.

OP, perhaps you could explain that you are now a Catholic and offer to take her to the local very, very traditional Catholic church?

She’s being rude and intrusive. Definitely the conversation needs to go drop this now otherwise it’s going to get really awkward. This isn’t a church. It’s a money making machine.

*(says the woman who wants to immolate scientology)

I think that's an excellent idea. Shall we get up a posse?*

I had to google Immolate, but now I have I'm in too!

OP - How about a compromise, you'll go with her if she'll join you at a Satanist meeting the day before?!

She is being very rude and disrepectful.

If she's such a good friend can't you just say 'You've asked and I've given my answer. Please drop it now, eh?'

Don't go OP. I think the not-wanting-to-go-alone argument doesn't work as anyone can go to church on their own, and they will be welcomed. That's the point of them.

I don't think you're unreasonable. It's not even a 'proper' church with pews and a nice quiet service! All that tacky music... (shudders)
Recommend a decent Anglican church so that she's feeling suitably relaxed & happy with the world when she gets back for Sunday lunch. All that happy clappy isn't conducive to a good meal - she'll get indigestion.

I’m an atheist, but bloody love going to the odd Anglican service now and again. Something to do with my childhood I suspect, lots of school and guide services. I wouldn’t touch a Destiny service with somebody else’s bargepole though.

Destiny Church is not a Christian Denomination. It is a MLM pyramid scam

I'll dig out the pitchforks Iris.

They teach prosperity theology

This is ALWAYS a bad sign.

Jesus loves me more than you, because - look! He has given me sooooo much money. God wants us to be rich and if He loves you, you will get money! Same if you are ill - that's because God is punishing you because your faith isn't strong enough.

i have money so I am better than you, that's why God loves me more. See all those poor people? They are poor because God hates them! God hates them because they are EVIL! Therefore we must shun them and not help them, otherwise we are helping the DEVIL!

You will find the leaders of these cults are enormously wealthy. They are also bigoted and cruel.

They claim to follow Jesus, but you will never see them performing a kind or selfless action. Jesus' love and acceptance for the poor, for sinners, for the sick, for outcasts, for anyone on the fringes of society somehow doesn't get a mention. Nor does the exhortation about the love of money being the root of all evil.

Strange, that.

And yet these cults attract thousands of people, probably because they seem to offer a simple answer to everything, and allow their followers to blame the weak and vulnerable for their own plight, and thus take the responsibility for helping others away. It is a "me, me, me" doctrine for the bigoted and greedy.

I do believe that we should evangelise - but I try to follow St Francis' advice - "Preach the Gospel; use words if you must". If you consider yourself a Christian, your actions should embody Christ's teaching.

Cults are terrifying.

OMG, that Scottish Sun article shock. Clock the expensive suits and deep tans that their credulous followers are paying for

I thought that Miscble

And of course, I totally agree with them that it is apporpriate to shoot non-believers and bad people. Jesus was well known for his highfalutin' rootin'-tootin' son-of-a-gun ways, and obviously the faithful want to follow in his footsteps.*

*SARCASM, just in case anyone thinks otherwise

I don't know HOW they can claim to follow Christ and yet do the EXACT OPPOSITE of what he teaches.