Once a year on Scout Sunday, we visit a different church. The last time was very, very strange. The people were hootin and hollerin and waving flags and streamers around. I asked my son what he thought. He said "Way cool".
That's the way I was raised. I went to a couple synogogues, Baptist churches, Presbyterian, Methodist, etc. and what some may find "uncomfortable" I found "way cool".
Doesn't learning about other cultures involve religion? You'd think people would value that. Guess not.
A 30 sec. prayer should not ruin anyone's appetite. If so, they should seek medical attention.
Attending a religious event by choice is one thing. I've been to a few and have found them generally to be either weird or boring. Sometimes the music is good. Everytime I went to one it was my choice to be there and I was respectful even if I did not participate. I doubt at this senior home the pushy prayer group bothers to ask first if anyone minds if they do put on their little show.
Just because you think a 30 second prayer should not ruin anyone's appetite doesn't mean it never happens. Just because you have a warm and fuzzy relationship with religion or other people's religions and like to see it infiltrating every aspect of public life does not mean other people have or do also.
No wonder more and more people turn to atheism or reject organised religion. It's attitudes like yours, chanel, and of those proselytizing seniors and of several of the Christofascists in this thread that alienate people from religion.