I'll enter churches for weddings and sometimes for funerals. A church is just a building. By going in I an not supporting the religion but paying respects to the people in the wedding or funeral. Granted I am bored silly by the religious stuff, but I don't join in prayers or even sing hymns and I definitely don't give them money.

To totally avoid churches, you are still lettign churches and religions manipulate/influence your life and how you behave. To act like it matters means they have some power over you and your life. I suggest you act like it doesn't matter to you at all one way or the other. It would be a qay to live your life and feel a lot more freedom.

Oh, mercy, I would think her being okay with it means she'd really like you to share a once-in-a-lifetime moment of happiness with her. You don't have to participate, and being in the building doesn't make you a hypocrite.

I would go and make it as comfortable as possible for her. Daughters and their happiness are precious. <3

you are honoring the people you care for, not the church.

I visit churches for weddings, funerals, and as a tourist. And when you think about it, I'm kind of a tourist when I'm at the weddings and funerals as well, observing the customs of an alien culture from the viewpoint of my own much different one. I don't participate, I just observe.

Well, I have to take that back--I did once participate in a Catholic funeral. It was my father-in-law's, and he had requested that everyone in the family be involved in it. I could have been dogmatic and refused (and thereby alienated all of my wife's family), but I realized that my father-in-law was a real iconoclast, and that was the reason he wanted me included. He knew better than to force anything on me. Appropriately enough, I was given the wine to take up for the communion. My brother-in-law had the wafers, and on our stroll up to the altar, he mumbled over at me, "Don't drink it all, Cuz." After the ceremony was over, the look on the priest's face when he learned I was an atheist was worth the whole experience.

The important thing, though, is that I was able to honor my father-in-law and stay on good terms with my in-laws while they knew full well that it did not affect my status as a nonbeliever one iota.

This is your daughter's wedding. I take it her first. She needs her father there at her wedding, is what I say. Let the religious say or do whatever they want to.

I could definitely put my ass in a pew for my own daughter's wedding.
Frankly, I can't believe you're going to pass on giving the bride away.

I get it that you don't want to enter a church, but this is a huge day for her and you can suspend your disbelief for her I think. At least for just a little while.

Your not being Silly. Maybe a little rigid ( in my humble opinion.) I didn't go into the chuch at my grandparents funerals - my choice. But I did go into religious buildings when I was in another country as a tourist. I like to think that I was respectful while i was there (as well as curious to see the imagery and mood of how others might worship).I would go to church for my daughters wedding - except she lives in a country where she isn't allowed to get married (Australia) (plus she wouldn't choose church) so its hypothetical.

Not really. You are who you are. People know who you are. The question is, how you want them to see you later on in life. A man who stands by his convictions and its all about me, or a generous man who loved his friends so much that you gave something up of yourself to show a love for your friends happiness. You can stand still and bow your head. You can also stop right there and be yourself as much as you can be without hurting them. Your silence is your mark of character. So is your love.

If they were having a star trek wedding, in a themed restaurant, or the ceremony was in a Superbowl themed restaurant, you would attended, despite not being into that subculture?

I think you should go, because they have chosen to have the wedding there. I am sure you won't be the only atheist in the church.

Why not ? It's your daughter !

Just because you enter a house of worship, doesn't mean you have to be of their religion, or believe anything you don't. It doesn't make you a hypocrite - but merely a temporary visitor.

Go. Enjoy. Celebrate. You won't "catch" anything !

Look, I got my masters from a Catholic affiliated college (Go St. John Fisher!) because it was local and had the degree I wanted. (I was weary at first but seeing the LBGTQ safe zone signs across campus made me know it was ahead of the Church on social issues).

Unless it's a really regressive church I think it's really petty if you don't go. If you don't talk about the afterlife it might really surprise you how much some religious people align with your world views.

thanks for your opinions/advice.. i'll have a chat with the pair of them and see what they actually want....i feel a vodka or 2 coming on

A church is a building with a roof and possibly other comforts such as heating / air conditioning. What's not to like? Going into a church doesn't infer that you believe in the teachings in the Bible, just as going into a mosque doesn't infer that you believe in the teachings in the Koran.

I go into churches only for weddings or funerals (or for my grand baby’s recital). My non-theism is mine, not theirs. I do not attend services at all.

I don’t believe it’s hypocricy to enter worship houses. You are not pretending to be something you are not.

I think in this example you are being selfish, not silly. This is her day. My daughter got married at the court, but I would have gone into a church for it.

Why not? You don't attend "for the religion" but to share your friends' happiness.

Of course. You are there to honor the couple being married. Now when they get a divorce, you should also go the the church for that ceremony.

if it were me and no one knew before hand except those who needed to...i would go. it's not as if i would have to wear a HI MY NAME IS: with ATHEIST underneath my name. you can still bow your head and stand up and be respectful. it's also not like they have a who isn't following along radar

Yes you are being a bit silly, but let me explain. We need to live with people who are religious. They are religious and follow, often, strict principles. Why would you want to have strict principles also? Who cares because it is only a building? I would enjoy meeting people and having fun. You did not convert to atheism, it is not a religion where you have to prove anything. I think you are carrying religious baggage. Let it go and be thankful you are not taken in by religious superstition.

It's your daughter's wedding. You don't have to believe in her god to support her marriage. It's a very important day for her; support her!

you should , to share in here hapiness

If you like the people enough then why not? You don't have to pray or sing though if it's Catholic and they all kneel and you remain standing you might look like a right prune so you might have to kneel lol
No need to upset other people for no reason. I know some really nice Christians actually and I don't hold it against them. If they are your friends then why upset them? They must already know you , right?

if it leads to a great party ....why not ??

I made the idiot mistake of " not turning up to the baptism " and paid a heavy price . folded like a pack of cards on the second grandkid. Neither of mine were annointed !

Yeah, you are being a bit silly. It's just a building, it holds no magic power. Just like you don't need to believe you live in the distant past to go with your friends to medieval times. You don't need to be a believer in zombie Jesus to be inside a church.

You are showing support to your friend not worshiping a god. I go to weddings and baptisms and funerals at churches and synagogues all the time to show respect and support to my friends and family.