Thread: Separation of Church and Work?

I am sorry to tell you this Sprout but what they are doing isn't preaching just being very, very, annoying. Every person has the right to believe what they want and to talk about it. That is what freedom of religion means, sorry.

The best I suggestion I can make is to actually learn a little about their religion and your own enough to respond in such a way that you express your own views, preferably without being just as annoying.

Originally Posted by atomik_sprout

Yet, when I come in to work and sit in my cube, one guy will say, "Praise the Lord, Sprout," to which I reply, "Whatever." Then he says, "You're SUPPOSED to say 'Praise the Lord'!!" I say again, "Whatever."

The correct response to this is "the bible says that liars get thrust down to hell." Well, you don't have to use that one but the point is to kindly remind him you don't believe in praising the lord but he can go right ahead and do it all he wants. "Whatever" is just being rude and blowing him off which, obviously, gets you no where.

Originally Posted by atomik_sprout

"Sprout, did you know that it's a sin against Allah to draw living beings such as humans and animals?" And he says this WHILE I'm drawing one of my manga characters!!

Well, since you said you are Zen (Bhuddist) just ask him to point out the Zen teaching that says that. Another approach would be to laugh and point out that all the Christians in the world must be in a lot of trouble then. ("Can I watch them being smitten?")

Originally Posted by atomik_sprout

"You need Jesus," or, "I'm praying for you." I'm quite sick of it.

...and you say "thank you." If they mean it kindly then it's a compliment because it means they care about you. If they don't then refusing to rise to the bait will get you much further and defuse them at the same time.


Yes, it can be annoying when people insist on constantly bringing up subjects you are not interested in. Handled politely though and asking nicely can get you far. Just remember, for every annoying religious person you meet there is probably some annoying anime fan boy out there giving all of us a bad name with their bad Japanese and talking constantly in public to anyone and everyone about how great anything from Japan is. *shudders*

Well I am Catholic as you two already know as I have said here god knows how many times. But any way, yes, I have my faith, how ever, I only talk about it if a person and I start talking and some how that comes up and say this is what I believe because blah blah blah and that’s the end of that with out pushing it onto the person. If not then I am back to work or what ever it is I am doing. I don't drag other people into it. I work full time as well, how ever I never had some one do that to me and annoy me with their faith, at least not in work, but it has happened with me many times on the street when I am walking around or some place in which case I just simply say to hello or good morning... To respond to what ever greeting they come to me with. If they are of different faith and preach to me about what they believe I simply tell them that I am Catholic. If they continue to press me I just tell them thank you but no thank you. In which case then they usually leave me alone.
As for the badgering sorts like the people you have to deal with, remind them that Christianity wants its followers to be humble towards others and to be respectful. If they don't shut the hell up, at least tell them to leave you alone because they are distracting you from your work.

Also, if it is annoying you, what they are doing is called Harassment, and if you want it to stop, you can go to your superiors. From the sounds of it, you work at a corporation right? Most Corp.'s have policies about such things. I know Convergys did.

Originally Posted by aceman67

Also, if it is annoying you, what they are doing is called Harassment, and if you want it to stop, you can go to your superiors. From the sounds of it, you work at a corporation right? Most Corp.'s have policies about such things. I know Convergys did.

Ace is right, tell them that if they keep it up you will take them to the dreaded HR. If that doesnt shut them up I don't know what will.

Originally Posted by Scourge

Ace is right, tell them that if they keep it up you will take them to the dreaded HR. If that doesnt shut them up I don't know what will.

A write up and suspension?

Corperations are so jumping about keeping EVERYBODY happy that they will deal with this quickly. Simply for the fact that they can be sued for millions if something goes unchecked.

Usually they give a warning first, then wright up and if it happens a third time then suspension. Thats what they do here.

Originally Posted by Arrianna

I am sorry to tell you this Sprout but what they are doing isn't preaching just being very, very, annoying. Every person has the right to believe what they want and to talk about it. That is what freedom of religion means, sorry.

The best I suggestion I can make is to actually learn a little about their religion and your own enough to respond in such a way that you express your own views, preferably without being just as annoying.


The correct response to this is "the bible says that liars get thrust down to hell." Well, you don't have to use that one but the point is to kindly remind him you don't believe in praising the lord but he can go right ahead and do it all he wants. "Whatever" is just being rude and blowing him off which, obviously, gets you no where.

Well, since you said you are Zen (Bhuddist) just ask him to point out the Zen teaching that says that. Another approach would be to laugh and point out that all the Christians in the world must be in a lot of trouble then. ("Can I watch them being smitten?")


...and you say "thank you." If they mean it kindly then it's a compliment because it means they care about you. If they don't then refusing to rise to the bait will get you much further and defuse them at the same time.


Yes, it can be annoying when people insist on constantly bringing up subjects you are not interested in. Handled politely though and asking nicely can get you far. Just remember, for every annoying religious person you meet there is probably some annoying anime fan boy out there giving all of us a bad name with their bad Japanese and talking constantly in public to anyone and everyone about how great anything from Japan is. *shudders*

But I was RAISED in a Christian family, went to confirmation, Sunday School, attended god knows how many retreats and have gone to bible camp religiously until high school. I don't need to learn about something I've been educated on my entire life. And replying with other semi-religious thoughts/phrases will put me smack-dab in the middle of a religious debate at work. I save those arguments for AO, LOL.

No, seriously though. I can understand that people have the right to discuss their religion freely. I'm not sayin' they can't. I'm sayin' put some boundaries up. Be polite. If you know what the other person believes/practices, don't try to pawn your religion off on that person. If they blow you off, it's for a good reason, is it not? I've stated several times at work how I feel about religion, yet these people feel the need to "peer pressure" me in to their bible-talk. I'm not hatin', just sayin' that if I made it quite clear that I want nothing to do with it, "Praise the Lord," or, "You need Jesus," is not the correct response. I don't tell other people that they need to meditate or that they're choice in religion is wrong. That would make me wrong and it would make me a bad person. Not sayin' they are, however... Can't people get a hint? The congregation at the church I was raised in know of my beliefs and respect them; why can't other Christians follow suit (Muslims too!)?

Originally Posted by aceman67

Also, if it is annoying you, what they are doing is called Harassment, and if you want it to stop, you can go to your superiors. From the sounds of it, you work at a corporation right? Most Corp.'s have policies about such things. I know Convergys did.

I know, I know; but I'm not tryin' to make a big ordeal over the matter at work. I figure I'll save the harassment complaint for when somebody touches my booty, LOL. It's not worth my time getting someone fired because they wanted to "save" me. But at the same time, if they won't stop then I will speak up and at least make a threat of filing a complaint. That'll shut 'em up. I just feel like if you're working in a cultural melting pot that you gotta put up boundaries for yourself. Besides, I'm a big boy. I can deal with it without getting my supervisors involved.