Do you feel comfortable with your co-workers knowing your religious views or lack thereof?

[AreaCode7O7]

It's interesting how, given the views my coworkers will express rather vehemently without knowing where I stand, I immediately then feel uncomfortable with them knowing my position.

 

[Ruptga]

There isn't much that makes me uncomfortable, especially when I know I'm right

Seriously though, I can debate and/or argue just fine, and have no problem expressing myself; of course I sometimes I need a day to put my thoughts together, but who doesn't? I'm not threatened by anyone's view, especially since I know people smarter than myself to call on when I don't have a solution, college profs ftw.

 

[jlee]

Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

 

[AreaCode7O7]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
There isn't much that makes me uncomfortable, especially when I know I'm right

Seriously though, I can debate and/or argue just fine, and have no problem expressing myself; of course I sometimes I need a day to put my thoughts together, but who doesn't? I'm not threatened by anyone's view, especially since I know people smarter than myself to call on when I don't have a solution, college profs ftw.

My fear is more about being discounted and having my job made more difficult because of what I believe. I can debate, and I really do enjoy doing it outside of work.

This is far enough down in the thread that I can state my position without biasing the poll. I'm a Christian in a large business in the Northwest. It doesn't take much for people to go off ranting about Christians.

 

[Jeff7]

It depends on the coworker. If the person is a Jesus freak who will drop by daily to splash me with holy water and excise the demons from me, then no, I don't want that person to know.

 

[mwtgg]

It does make me uncomfortable.

 

[Regs]

I don't think anybody at work cares about religion. It's never a hot topic. Our company is very diverse and it's common knowledge as soon as you step in the front door that your religion is no longer important.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Absolutely not. The vast majority of the people I work with are devoutly religious. Openly saying that I am not would seriously affect my social and business dealings with virtually everyone I know. Fortunately I don't feel the need to preach, and when religion is brought up I remain silent. I know silence implies consent, but I certainly don't feel that I should be the local champion of agnosticism either.

 

[Uhtrinity]

It seems to be understand that politics and religion aren't a topic to be shared at work. However I have had the occasional parent or student bring up religion to which I politely reply, "What does that have to do with computer lab?"

 

[ppdes]

Quite comfortable. In fact I often make up religious edicts and use them to justify decisions. E.g. the flying spaghetti monster has gifted me with a vision, we must do the Italian place for lunch today or all will suffer.

 

[TheSiege]

im stuck in mormon ville and and i swear to god i have to hear about how jesus is magic everyday. i let my opinion be known when it is brought up or talked or asked about. we all have different views and should tolerate them as long as they dont hurt others...

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
It seems to be understand that politics and religion aren't a topic to be shared at work. However I have had the occasional parent or student bring up religion to which I politely reply, "What does that have to do with computer lab?"

If you're worried about nut jobs that won't even hear you out, do what he does until you know who's reasonable and who's already put their opinion in stone. If you must comment or give a response, that's fine, just don't make your ideas overt until you know who's willing to hear before deciding, and don't be afraid to drop or redirect the conversation.

edit: and yes, it's generally understood that politics and/or religion isn't discussed in professional settings, you shouldn't have much of a problem at work.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Pick a slightly outside of mainstream, semi-obscure religion to fake. Jehovah's Witness works well. That way the Christians see you as religious and the anti-Christians see you as one of them. Play both sides and lie constantly.

 

[purepolly]

Well I work in a hospital and faith is kind of a given. Not all, but most of the nurses I work with have a firm faith belief. We kind of recognize medical science will only get you so far and faith ultimately carries you the rest of the way. Sit with a dying patient sometime, without faith, despair sets in pretty darn quick.

I'll admit it, there are times I'd rather see the priest walking down the hall than a doctor, cause they can do things Dr's can't.

Yep, faith, one of the wonderful perks of the job.

 

[RichUK]

Or lack thereof?

Why would anyone care if you didn?t have religious views?

That?s classed as neutral.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Pick a slightly outside of mainstream, semi-obscure religion to fake. Jehovah's Witness works well. That way the Christians see you as religious and the anti-Christians see you as one of them. Play both sides and lie constantly.

While it has a lot of differences, Jehovah's Witnesses are still Christians.

I don't really care who knows, although it's sometimes annoying on all the dumb questions you then get hit with (I'm Jewish).

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: purepolly
Well I work in a hospital and faith is kind of a given. Not all, but most of the nurses I work with have a firm faith belief. We kind of recognize medical science will only get you so far and faith ultimately carries you the rest of the way. Sit with a dying patient sometime, without faith, despair sets in pretty darn quick.

I'll admit it, there are times I'd rather see the priest walking down the hall than a doctor, cause they can do things Dr's can't.

Yep, faith, one of the wonderful perks of the job.

please tell me what hospital you work at so i know not to go there.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: RichUK
Or lack thereof?

Why would anyone care if you didn?t have religious views?

That?s classed as neutral.

Not true. I know many religious people who would classify those who lack faith as being in direct opposition to their faith. Quite a few of them don't know (or don't care about) the differences between an Atheist and a Satanist. These people are so deeply entrenched in a religious community that they won't even give serious thought to alternate beliefs, even for the purposes of separating who's bad and who's good and who could care less.

 

[meltdown75]

I'd rather people in general (including co-workers) not know.

There are too many psychos out there that have all this built-up angst against religion. Little do they realize that they are what they hate, which is extremist.

You never know when one of these freaks that can't get over themselves is going to go postal and bust a cap in your ass or burn the building down or something.

To live simply to bash on the beliefs of others.... wow. I cannot imagine a more mundane and useless way to live. But... they're out there...

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: RichUK
Or lack thereof?

Why would anyone care if you didn?t have religious views?

That?s classed as neutral.

Not true. I know many religious people who would classify those who lack faith as being in direct opposition to their faith. Quite a few of them don't know (or don't care about) the differences between an Atheist and a Satanist. These people are so deeply entrenched in a religious community that they won't even give serious thought to alternate beliefs, even for the purposes of separating who's bad and who's good and who could care less.

Well I?m glad I don?t know and am not surrounded by people like that.

 

[3NF]

I have no problem with talking to others about my "religion" - the question is, are they comfortable with what I have to say? People tend to get uncomfortable once I start telling them that all life on this planet was genetically designed by aliens.

 

[purepolly]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: purepolly
Well I work in a hospital and faith is kind of a given. Not all, but most of the nurses I work with have a firm faith belief. We kind of recognize medical science will only get you so far and faith ultimately carries you the rest of the way. Sit with a dying patient sometime, without faith, despair sets in pretty darn quick.

I'll admit it, there are times I'd rather see the priest walking down the hall than a doctor, cause they can do things Dr's can't.

Yep, faith, one of the wonderful perks of the job.

please tell me what hospital you work at so i know not to go there.

Honey, we are talking about the needs of dying patients here, not those with knee replacement surgery. There will be a big difference in your professional approach between the two.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Wouldn't a doctor deceiving someone into thinking they'll be fine have the same effect as "faith"? Oh, but doctors have those pesky ethics to deal with...

 

[purepolly]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Wouldn't a doctor deceiving someone into thinking they'll be fine have the same effect as "faith"? Oh, but doctors have those pesky ethics to deal with...

Who is talking about deceipt? It isn't about death bed conversion or anything like that, and it isn't something we all sit around and discuss. It's just a given. People die. The faith we posess makes it easier to be open to the wide range of pt and families needs as the death process ensues. And spiritual needs are very important part of the death process for some people. If I didn't address those needs, I would not be doing my job as the patients advocate. Plain and simple.

 

[lokiju]

Politics and religion.

The two things you don't talk about at work.