Guided Prayer OK?

I need some advice. Last night I went to what I thought was going to be just a nice dinner and show at the Duplin Winery. When I got there the host on a microphone led an out loud prayer before we were allowed to dine. She publicly asked everyone to bow their head and then began a group prayer.

The advice I guess I would like to receive is "Is this really legal"? and "Am I just overreacting"?

The tickets are non refundable so if I would have gotten up and walked out at that point I would have lost 100 bucks. Its not that I am against saying grace if you want to, but I think a moment of silence for those that wanted to participate would have been more appropriate.

They showed such flagrant disregard to any other culture or religion- why should I be forced to pray to a God that may not be my own just to eat in your establishment?

I just feel like they should have at least warned people that it was a strictly Christian business. I guess its their own privately owned business, and as such they can have their own practices, but I feel that my civil liberties have been violated and I don't know if I have any recourse of action. Maybe a letter to the owner? I doubt that would help.

Please let me know if you think I am just overreacting or if I am valid in my concern.

I dont think you have any legal recourse, but you can make your objection known to the event holders and als just spread the word about it so that others might know what they are getting into in the future.

Hi Selina,

I am frequently faced with similar situations. It irks the living $#@% out of me. I have to bite my tongue, HARD. I agree that a legal approach is probably not the best course of action. I would, however, absolutely write a letter and copy your local newspaper(s). If the paper(s) run your letter, the winery may look as though they do not accept others with differing view points which isn't good for business. I bet they will respond in a pleasing manner. When you or I or others speak out, it is a very big deal to most of those people you wrote about. Many of them are completely oblivious to people like us (perhaps the people at the winery?). Things are changing however. ( :

Hi Selina,
I would have been upset too! I probably would have spoken to the management that evening, as a face to face discussion with one of their paying guests would get some attention. but I think a letter will work too, or a phone call. As you said, this is flagrantly disregarding all but the Xian's in the crowd -- total tunnel vision, and they need to be educated that lots of people like wine, not just the "saved" Or, if they don't want our business, we should be told that in advance, and we will happily spend our money elsewhere! I have thought of going up there, and definitely will not do so now.

From a new member...

When this happens to me....I don't bow my head....I look at everyone in the room to see if there may be another heathen in the rooms of glory ~sarcasm intended~. Sometimes I tap my foot if they take to long.

It will never end in this area....with groups like this, at least we can vent. Thank you, Sara

I'm with Sara. When I went to the Obama rally during the primary I sat with my hat on when they had the prayer. I took some flak, but if we don't indicate our nonbelief in some manner "they" will persist in the delusion that we really don't exist.

I would not have disrupted the praying at the winery, but, as others have said, I would have spoken to someone in charge during the evening.

Pete