Atheists: does religion ever come up in your workplace ...?

Question

if so, how do you react?

Answer 1

Constantly. I have an office mate who every single day goes on and on about it, and tries openly to convert me and save my soul. Correct me if I'm wrong, but... isn't that supposed to be, I dunno, God's job according to her book?

Unfortunately, I live in the Bible Belt and work in a right-to-work state. I work for the state, in fact. I had to sign an at-will-employ agreement, which means the office can let me go for any reason at any time, without exception. So if I make a fuss about it, I'm the one who gets fired because being an atheist in this state can be construed as 'hostile to the general social norm', and thus I'm the one creating the hostility -- after all, she'd have nothing to be hostile about if I would just conform.

*rubs his forehead* Soon as I get my year in so I can put it on my resume, I'm sooooo out of here.

Answer 2

I was reading a Dan Brown novel called "Angels and Demons" which is the prequal to The DaVinci Code. It was laying on my desk and my boss asked me what it was about. I explained that it was the prequal to The DaVinvi code which led him to ask what The DaVinci Code was about. He is Catholic, I was raised Catholic and am now Agnostic. He did not like the idea of The DaVinci Code and had a couple harsh words to say about it. I just told him that I found the theories interesting and the conversation was over.

I have a very close-knit workplace and my boss and I are pretty close so it was not an uncomfortable situation for me. He does not know my beliefs other than that I was raised Catholic. Had this not been such a close-knit environment, we probably would have never discussed the subject.

Answer 3

i wager I even are turning out to be tricky because it doesn't irritate me in this communicate board. after I submit a question, I anticipate the stupid answer, with none idea, the rant of both a faith or ones telling me i'm in a cult or if it has to do with creation, the atheist telling me i don't have a mind. I do ask for solutions now to not be rude yet it really is what i'm getting, THEN, I see the gorgeous, scripture sponsored and nicely idea out solutions of Jehovah's Witnesses, which quite warms by technique of heart. lots of them are so heartfelt and that i typically have problem determining on a suitable answer because of all that. i wager i'm bias yet like many others, i visit to that information by technique of reading all the others and there's no evaluation. :D Matt 11:25 "I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you've hidden those products from the sensible and psychological ones and performance revealed them to babes" So, enable them say they are the sensible ones and we are not, Jehovah has each and every thing less than administration!

Answer 4

Yes, and I admit I lie by omission, I don't want to be hated or lose my job. I stand there terrified that someone will find out and subject me to abuse like they have in the past. In nearly every workplace I've been at atheist bashing has gone on and been discussed. I have friends who have been harassed out of their jobs by co-workers for it. It is totally acceptable in their workplaces.

So, I listen silently while coworkers proclaim that atheists should die, that atheists should leave the country, that atheists should be kicked out of the country, that atheists aren't Americans, that atheists shouldn't be allowed to marry, that atheists are nazis, perverts, serial killers, and child molesters. I listen to the abuse and try not to react.

Answer 5

Yes. I bring it up and bash away. Just a total rant.

NO ONE I work with goes to church out of 17 people in the company. I have one neighbour that goes to church. The only person in the neighbourhood to ever steal from me too. But as she says, it could not have really been stealing, Jesus wouldn't have let her do that....

I'm really happy to live in this area. Sure wish she would move.

Answer 6

Religion comes up on occasion but my co-workers know that I'm an atheist and don't push it. These subjects usually turn into philosophical discussions.

Answer 7

Think at workplace all those "believers" behave worse than atheists...otherwise...where are the values and the ethics???

Answer 8

It didn't come up often, though there were two places I worked where it did.

When I was in college and doing data entry work for this grocery company in the area, there was one co-worker that did frequently annoy me about religion, going on and on about how she was a devout Catholic and couldn't marry a guy who wasn't Catholic as well. Which was her right, though what really irritated me was her frequent bringing up of the fact she was in love with her "perfect man", only he was already married or otherwise attached.

She frequently asked my opinion and while I wasn't officially atheist then, I was probably well on my way, if not an atheist and just couldn't quite accept the possibility at that point. It irritated me that she professed to be devout and was even thinking of going after a guy who was already attached.

It was such a loaded question that I either didn't answer, or I gave her the warning to leave this married fellow alone or they'd both end up with heartache. I refused to bring religion into it, no matter how much she did. Her beliefs, her right, and mine have been trampled on by people too much that I held my tongue about what I thought about her being "devout" and in a near-affair with a married fellow.

The other place was thankfully less irritating and not on a daily basis like the above lady. But religion did come up and I sat on more than one occasion overhearing chatter from my co-workers about religious beliefs. I felt quite out of place and uncomfortable, especially listening to a co-worker who was due to be married about how she "made" her husband-to-be go to church and Bible study. Her business, I really didn't agree, especially about making her husband go to church. His decision was my opinion on it, but I didn't know her and knew better than to insert my own opinion and make enemies out of it.

Quite frankly, office politics are messy and nasty affairs, especially if you're in a minority opinion. Still wasn't atheist then, but it disgusted me to hear it. Same woman also tried to bait me into a conversation about respecting one's elders and how she couldn't tell off an elder, even when they deserved it.

I quit soon after for health reasons, though I have to say, I was relieved to be out of that pit of bloodthirsty, gossipy, catty women. I doubt that if I even went to public relations or the boss, anything would've been done. Even though I didn't like having to hear their too-loud conversations, they weren't directed at me and weren't discriminatory, so I couldn't do anything.

I suppose it all depends on if religion comes up and how it comes up as to what my reaction is. If I end up overhearing a conversation I'm not involved in, I don't get involved and mind my own business unless it's brought to me. If it's brought to me, then my reactions can vary from "Shut up, I'm trying to work" or, well, colorful ways of telling someone persistent that their words are unwelcome.

But if it's illegal discrimination that I were to see(and thankfully, I haven't) or be directly involved with, there wouldn't be any hesitation. It would be immediately reported, be it directed at me or a co-worker. Regardless if I lost my job or not, it would be reported. Obviously, if someplace is going to fire me for reporting discrimination, let alone allow it to begin with, well, I don't want to be working there any longer.

Answer 9

yes, and I don't like it. too many religious people are trying to impose their views in politics and now at work. when does the preaching end.

Answer 10

Never