If you are Lebonese what religion are you?

Question

My boss is from Lebanon & he is not the friendliest guy in the world but he's a good boss. We would like to buy him a holiday gift but nobody including myself has the guts to ask him if he's Jewish, Muslim or Christian. Now I know that if you're from Isreal chances are you're Jewish but I've never heard of Lebanon until I started working for him. We can't very well give him a gift the week of Christmas if that's not his holiday that I think would be an insult considering he's very proud of his culture. Any idea?

If hes Islam or Muslim does anyone know when their holiday is?

Answer 1

Not all Lebonese are the same. There are Christians and Muslims in Lebanon. So there's no knowing, but that's OK, as you're off the hook.

Since he's "not the friendliest guy" that probably means that he wants to keep business business, and not mix it with personal. (Which doesn't mean there's anything wrong with him, just that he doesn't believe in making friends of the people who work for him. This is a perfectly acceptable attitude; one you should mirror toward him.)

Therefore, don't buy him a gift.

If he's a good boss, then be a good employee. That's the sum of your obligation to him. Be pleasant and professional and do your job.

Especially don't make assumptions about his religion. As I say, there's no knowing.

Edit: When I clicked, I had forgotten to Refresh and thought you hadn't gotten any responses.

I'm telling you, your own words about him, that he's a good boss, but doesn't try to make friends with you means he's being professional (in the old fashioned, strict sense). Don't give him a gift.

When appropriate, wish him Happy Holidays, but no more.

Save your money for those with whom you have a personal relationship.

Answer 2

Somewhere I heard that 50% or almost 50% of people from Lebanon are Christians. The other half would obviously be mostly Muslim. The Christians there are a particular type of Catholic church, which is not Roman Catholic. They are called "Maronite" Catholic, I think. They often will call themselves Orthodox Christians.

So, I'd say you have a 50/50 chance that he's either Muslim or Christian. Why not ask him, since he's very proud of his culture, what holidays he celebrates, being from Lebanon. This will impress him because you are taking an interest in his culture. Then you'll know what to do!

Answer 3

Hard to say really. Could be Muslim, Christian, atheist or something else. Islam and Christianity are the two most common religions there, but Lebanon is known for its religious and cultural diversity. You probably shouldn't make any assumptions. Maybe just ask what he's doing for the holidays. That might give you a hint.

Answer 4

My question to you would be, what is your religion. You may be an atheist. If so, why care about what we believe? The lack of God or an afterlife means all life is completely meaningless anyway. Just make your money, enjoy your life, and shut up. You may be one of these people who says, "I am spiritual, but not religious." In other words, you believe in God but refuse to be a Catholic, a Baptist, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddist, etc. But why would you believe in God? Where did you get your information that there even is a God. And WHO is God? Did you make Him up from your own idea, or did He/She dervive from some religion that you bash? Either way, you have your own private religion. You do good things and bad things in the name of your un-religious god, whoever he or she is, and if you are an atheist, your god is the person in the mirror.

Answer 5

No true way to tell without asking him. Many are Christians (there is a very old and traditional Church in Lebanon, from the very beginning of the Church), many more are Muslim, some are Jewish.....

What's his e-mail address? **I'll** ask him for you.

;-)

Answer 6

most of Lebanese are muslims. there are Christians and Jews too.

to be safe, i suggest you not to give him gifts based on religious holidays be it Christmas, Hanukkah or Eidul-Adha. as you said that he's a proud man, it would offended him if you given him a gift for the holiday that he doesn't celebrate.

why don't you give him a gift on his birthday or new year! if you insist on giving him a gift during religious celebrations, get to know whether he's a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim first.

BTW, i would not be easily offended if my sub-ordinate give me a gift on Christmas or Hanukkah. not that i celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah BUT the thought that really counts!

message for your boss - "we live on a colourful place called Earth, where there are sooooo many cultures, traditions, races, languages, dialects, faiths and religions. we mustn't get too easily offended if someone did something that can offended your culture, belief or religion unintentionally."

Answer 7

He is probably muslim, but there is a large christian population as well. he may be proud of his culture, but that does not classify his religion.

Answer 8

The majority of Lebanese used to be Catholic but, I bet now days they are Muslim

Answer 9

AND LEBANON ISN'T ON YOUR COMPUTER?
ALL PEOPLE ARENT SAME REIGION ANYWAY.
AND BEST NOT TO BUY PEOPLE RELIGIOUS GIFTS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES ECT.

PEOPLE CAN EXCHANGE HOLIDAY GIFTS BECAUSE OF THE SEASON.
EVEN ISLAM-MUSLIM FOLLOW GOD...JEWISH-SAME.
BEST TO BUY THINGS LIKE WALLETS--OR GIFT CERT-

CUSTOM AND NOT OFFENDING TO EXCHANGE HOLIDAYS GREETING .
AS CHRISTIANS ECT WE DO NOT WANT TO ENTERTAIN OFFENDING OTHERS- YET WE WANT TO EXTEND THE SEASONS WISHES UNTIL ALL.

HENCE VERY CAREFUL GIFTS....SHIRTS-CLOTHING-CERTICATES FOR BUYING FOOD-RETAIL STORES-..

AND MOST PEOPLE AREN'T OFFENDED AT BEING ASKED ABOUT THEIR RELIGIOUS PREFERENCES.

Answer 10

Buy him a gift for the new year. You cannot go wrong there