Non-Christians and Christian titles

[LifeIsGoodish]

If you're not a Christian, how would you address Father James, Brother John or Sister Mary? Especially when their names are not used, just their titles. After all, they're not your father, brother or sister, so it would be a bit weird to call them that.

I would say Father John, Sister Mary etc. I would consider it respectful to use the titles people choose for themselves.

Me too. To me it would be no different to calling someone Professor Plum or Colenol Mustard or the Dalai Lama for that matter. If that's their professional title I would use it. Why do envisage that to be a problem for non-religious people

I’d call them Father John, Sister Mary etc - it’s their title. Like i’d call you Mrs/Ms/Miss/Mr Goodish unless you said ‘Hi, I’m Lifeis.’
I was called ‘Sister’ by non siblings for most of my working life, because that was my professional title, same as theirs. I’d call the Pope and the Dalai Lama ‘Your Holiness’, my personal belief is nothing to do with this.

Yes, of course, Sister is a nursing title (I have one in my own family!).

Where do you live OP? The term "sister" for nursing staff has not been used in the UK for some time.

Medics, clerics, academics, civil and military all have titles. We non religious types have no reason not to say Father Ted any less than we would say Chief Superintendent Hastings.

Why do ask? I can't understand why this would surprise you

Presumably pacifists object to the armed forces, but still address serving personnel as Captain Bloggs, Sergeant Smith or whatever? Why do you have a problem with Christian titles, OP?
And to the PP who said that Christians “choose titles for themselves” - er, no they don’t. The title is earned by completing their degree in divinity and being ordained - at least, that’s the case in my church! They’re then addressed as Reverend Bloggs, they can’t choose a different title.
My own minister is double qualified in law and divinity and is addressed as Reverend Doctor.

the term sister for nursing staff has not been used for some time in the UK

Rubbish! Still very much used in both of our local hospitals in Gloucestershire.

I would call them Father, Brother or Siater. Because I am an atheist, not an arsehole.

Same at my hospital, there are several Sisters still on the wards!

And woe betide the person that calls any a Charge Nurse!

I met a priest today, at an interfaith event. The introduction was something like

"Oh, there's LifeIs. Come over here, LifeIs, and meet Father James. Father James, this is LifeIsGoodish."

"Hello LifeIs, nice to meet you. Do call me James."

And the conversation continued, with him addressing us by our first names, while she called him Father and I called him James. She's Catholic, I'm a member of a different faith, which they both knew.

I have no idea why you even started this thread. Your question has been answered. Several times.

Non-religious people are happy to call religious people whatever they would like us to call them.

What part of this do you not understand?

The priest himself invited me not to use his title, while others of his religion used it. Was he assuming I would be uncomfortable using it? Was he uncomfortable with the other's formality? I don't know.

Why didn't you ask him?

“The priest himself invited me not to use his title, while others of his religion used it.“

He was just being thoughtful. Why is it bothering you so much?

Some priests prefer Father Surname, others Father Forename, others are fine with just forename. I knew a priest who really disliked Fr Surname and preferred just to be known as his forename, but found Fr forename fine from parishioners who just couldn't bring themselves not to say father. I just go with what people prefer, in general.

I worked with a knight of the realm. The first time I spoke to him I said "Sir Xyz". He said "Please, feel free to call me Xyz"

Am I missing something?

Why didn't you ask him?

Because we were talking about food, which is far more important than explaining differences. It was a relaxing and entertaining conversation, which lots of people joined in with. It was an interfaith event, it was about exploring what we had in common. I didn't think about the differences in address until later.

If I meet him again, I will ask.

I'm not bothered by it, I'm curious. I want to understand. That's why I'm involved in interfaith activities.

I suspect it has something to do with formality. My title is the Revd Mostlydrinkstea. If I ever get round to doing a PhD I would be the Revd Dr Mostlydrinkstea. In conversations at community events I introduce myself as, Hi I'm Mostly, the local vicar. If a member of my parish is around they would say 'This is Revd Mostly, she is our vicar/priest/minister depending on the tradition they come from. I would then say, as your chap did, call me .

It is slightly different in the Roman Catholic or Anglican Anglo Catholic tradition where priests have traditionally been called Father. Some insist on it. Some are happy to drop the title and just go with the first name. Some from this tradition call me Mother Mostly.

It sounds as if it is more about formality and titles and how someone wants to be addressed rather than the faith or lack of it of anyone else. Ask him next time. I'm always getting asked what the difference is between priest, vicar, revd etc.

IME, calling an Anglo-Catholic incumbent Father is something their own church family does. Anyone else would just use their names. I’m on Deanery Synod, and we all refer to the AC priest by his first name. We are not part of his church family, so a familial term would not be appropriate.

I was taught that Reverend was something that goes on the outside of an envelope (or church noticeboard). If you are addressing them directly in a formal sense, it would be Mr/Mrs/Dr etc.

We are not part of his church family, so a familial term would not be appropriate.

That makes sense to me. In my ignorance I probably expressed it very clumsily in the OP.

I was going to say something similar - it's about the relationship, in this context not really a 'title'.

I knew a priest in a non religious environment. He asked to be called firstname, several Catholics continued to call him Father in this environment, probably out of force of habit.

Maybe priests want to step out of their religious role for a while, and realise the more informal form of address removes barriers.