Part of me doesn't want to let them off the hook.

My wife and I brought our kids up with religion, pretty much. My wife and I and our kids have all come to same conclusion that religion is bullshit. We were, however, Jewish so we were accustomed to bitching about Christian crap but now we see it is all crap. We are grateful, however, that now everybody in our little group is on the same page regarding politics and religion. We are currently laughing at what a terrible threat the caravan of immigrants were coming up through Mexico but now that the midterm elections have past, Trump has forgotten about that terrible threat. Now he just wants to insult and arrest news reporters who have the audacity to ask him more that one question at a press conference.

This is bad advice for the entire year

My friends have a rule when we go out, no religion and no politics and we all get along great.. no one cares what the other likes or doesn't like. My small family is all on the same page so there's no problem.

This has been a rule in our family gatherings forever. And it works. We are a happy family, though we do not always agree politically or religiously. We find other things to talk and laugh about.

I do not mind talking about politics or anyone else for that matter. What I do mind is someone telling me what to do. Religions do that too.

I don't think there's any reason to get belligerent about it and turn the gathering into a pissing contest, but I also feel that silence equals assent. Even in discussions of divisive topics online, I tell people that I consider it a sign of respect to speak openly and honestly about issues. The purpose is not to flip people per se, but to offer a rationale for holding the views you do. You never know who might be sitting on the fence and too timid themselves to weigh in for fear of dealing with the backlash.

I agree! I saw my dad physically fight someone 1 when i was a kid thanksgiving day because of a foot ball game. There's never any thing on tv or a topic more important than the person next to you. Unless you are next to a negative creep. I'm in love this thanxgiving! I've newly moved from Phoenix to Spokane Washington and I'm riding with my brother and his wife up north Idaho to see bald eagles near a salmon dying place where lots of eagles nest. It will be lots of fun. Have the best thanxgiving ever everyone!

Yep that's where my facebook initiative came from

bill keeps me sane and he keeps me from getting on a plane learning to shoot and being in prison to die

Religion, politics and unions are three things I don't discuss with anybody. It always pisses off someone.

Excellent idea...and I am going to use it!

Yes and as he was saying it, it would also mean canceling his show since that's all he talks about...

Happy Thanksgiving Admin dude. Thankfully most of my family members don't bring up political talk during holiday get togethers. I'm fairly convinced that politics have a way of dividing people even more than religion does...

No that is what religion wants you to sit down and shut up. While they push their crap onto you you are to just shut up and sit down. I have done it enough. Religion is the world accepted mental illness.

Watch Maher's Religulous ahead of time and use keywords from the film to make a game of "Religulous bingo". So when people ask you whether or not you are having a good time and/or trigger one of the keywords, you can then, with a smile, say "bingo" .