Has anyone else noticed this about religious people?

Question

I have a co-worker who's a real sleeze-ball. He brings a flash drive to work even though they're not allowed (we work with some potentially sensitive financial information), he's arrogant and thinks he can do whatever he wants. He comes in to work on weekends and at night and does nothing so he can rack up overtime. Everyone in the office sees it but the boss, who is religious. The boss totally likes the guy because they hole up in his office and talk about church.
My aunt is also very into religon. She has her own medical practice and I used to work there as a receptionist. The office manager was also "deeply religious". Something about her rubbed me the wrong way, but my aunt liked her because they used to pray together at lunch and yak about their religion. My aunt is now bankrupt because the office manager stole her identity and racked up a bunch of bills in her name.
What is it about religious people that they dont' have that "sixth sense" about bad people? Is it gulibility?

Or are religious people just too focused on seeing "good" in people they forget to protect themselves? Is this a virtue?

No disrespect meant, it's just something I've noticed.

I'm not asking about the sleazy ones, I'm wondering about the good ones who can't recognize the sleazy ones.

Answer 1

It's hard to accept that someone who you see as having a lot in common with you can be a complete sleaze, and amoral to boot. (The more someone has in common with you, the more you trust them, or at least feel you can predict them. Makes it hard to see how bad they are, because you don't want to associate those traits that make you "good" with someone who is "bad.")

I don't think it's purely for the religious. But I do think that a lot of hucksters have found out that being overtly religious is a great way to build the trust of the people around them...

Answer 2

Some peolple do hide behind religion until many see there true color. Perhaps some people see it but because they are christians they give the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it varies from how they are approached by that certain someone. Now when I have that same experience I show love but keep my eyes on them form time to time. I am not a judge but if they come at me wrong and I see there true face. I say what needs to be said and leave that person to there self . Everyone has to stand before the judgement seat of Christ . In God's time they will also give account to the way they live and repersent Jesus. Try to just over look people that are this way and not accept there views on life because something wrong with that picture.

Answer 3

I'm one of those people you might consider "religious."
You have a very valid point--and by the way, I am sorry for your Aunt. Stories like that don't help the idea that a Christian is supposed to be a follower of Christ. Granted, we as humans will make mistakes, but that is different than out and out hurting someone.
It is true. We are gullible. We do WANT to see the good in others, so we tend to not look at possible flaws. So with everything I've written, why would anyone want to be a Christian?
The answer is we believe, and yes that requires faith, that Christ died on our behalf, so we can see Him in heaven after this life. Also, Christ did set an example for us to follow--and it does not involve hurting others or taking advantage of them.
I appreciate your honest question. Thanks for asking, and I hope this helps in some way.

Answer 4

Other than bringing something to work that he shouldn't, you didn't really give any evidence of the first guy being a sleeze-ball. You kind of painted a picture of a confident, hard worker, so I can't really comment on him. The lady with your aunt though, could have been using religion for personal gain. There are many people that pretend to be something they aren't and use religion for financial gain, she was a scam artist and I hope she is in jail. Some of us are gullible and some of us aren't, just like any other segment of the population.

Answer 5

All I can say is lolz.

But I totally get where your coming from, my parents befriended a family from there church, this family were members of the National Front and now the BNP (they are both racists political parties), but my parents being my parents failed to realize that the family were racist until it was too late and they themselves were drawn in, they are still members of the BNP to this day, which is yet another reason for me not visiting them.

Answer 6

I dont ascribe to any particular religion, but I do believe in God. It's a very bad practice to discuss religion in the workplace. I'm a psychiatric nurse and you could say I've developed a sixth sense about people. I dont think religion has any connection with common sense about people. I've known atheists who coulldnt judge one person from the other.
I would imagine there's even a large number of atheists who are gullible.

Answer 7

Many people who are religious tend to ignore character traits among their own kind (church members, religious affiliation).
They particularly see the similarity between themselves, rather than the differences.
With this being said, religious bigots focus their judgments on people who they cannot relate with, (people who do not believe the way they do).

Answer 8

Religion is more than saying your are, going to church, and reading the Bible.

Being Christian is a way of life and the people you mentioned aren't "religious".

I'm an Atheist....and I know many "religious" people who live the life...my mother being one of them.

Answer 9

It just shows they are human.

A person who claims to be a Christian should be able to admit they are not perfect. This is not an excuse to do whatever they want. It just shows their continual need for God.

Answer 10

Usually the overtly religious people I work with are the one who ask me to copy programs or come in to milk overtime at my workplace.

I'm just speaking of the Evangelical types that concentrate on gays having sex.