Is there room for Jesus in the workplace?
Mikey 21 comments
How do you handle religion in the workplace? I want to share with you an incident that happened last month at the office of my former employer. The names have been changed to protect the innocent (and not so innocent).
Adrian came into the office with his wrist bandaged up. He had taken a fall during a soccer game. Enter the new guy, Sam, who at that stage had only been with the company a few weeks. Sam usually kept to himself and we didn't know much about him, except he had come from an organisation we hadn't heard of, and that he was also heavily into his religion. Which leads me to the next part of this story.
Noticing Adrian's bandaged arm, he asked what had happened and was given the same story about the soccer incident, but what happened next caught everyone off guard.
Sam walked over, put his hand on Adrian's wrist, closed his eyes and started: "May the light of the lord Jesus Christ heal this arm....insert rest of prayer here" and ended with "Amen".
We all stood jaws agape, not really sure how to react. At first I thought it was a joke, and Adrian being the easy going good sport that he is just said "I feel better already".
But out of pure politeness I decided not to call Sam out on this - because he was the new guy and also because to be honest - I couldn't predict the reaction of anyone who sees no problem with forcing a religious practice onto an unwitting victim at the workplace.
In fairness I will say that Sam is actually a nice guy, as I did get to know him a little better during my last 2 weeks at the company.
But I do have a problem with this sort of thing. Did he stop to think about how Adrian would feel about having a 'faith healer' practice on his wrist? Did he consider that maybe Adrian might be offended?
My questions to our loyal readers: Do you think this behaviour is inappropriate at the workplace? How would you feel if you were at the receiving end?
Jake
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 01:59 PMThe first rule of worplace interaction is; DO no discuss sex, religion or politics unless you are willing to be sacked for expressing your opinion. Discussing this stuff in the workplace is stupidity; everyone has an opinion and invariably, at least one person will have a different opinion and want to challenge yours. Practicing a religious rite or act in the workplace, especially when you perform it on someone in public is downright idiocy!
I work with two fundamentalist christians and after the initial war of the words that ensued after the first time they asked the question 'which church do you worship at' and 'how do you spell your christian name' I've done my best to aviod the subject around them. I dare say though that if one of them attempted to faith-heal me, or someone in front of me, I would have a great deal of trouble biting my tongue.
Invariably, the view that many hardline or fundamentalist christians hold is that everyone in their workplace is also a jesus lover, then the second they find out the contrary, you become public enemy number 1... lucky they're so darn tollerant!
andrew
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 04:04 PMso did his wrist get bettter, or was as you said just being polite..
Anders
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 04:21 PMHell no. Pretty damned offensive if you ask me.
Rodney
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 05:03 PMIt's like something out of a sitcom, isn't it? I think if it happened to me I'd just assume it was a joke and by the time I realised it wasn't the whole thing would be over... Then I'd want to say something about it but probably wouldn't. :-p
Wendy W
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 06:28 PMThat's very full on. You don't get much more in your face than an attempted faith healing at the one place you least expect. Somehow I think his intention was to shock or even put himself out there for others to see who he really is. Either way he shouldn't have done it and I would have some words to throw back.
Janine
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 06:32 PMThe Office Space reference cracked me up. Well done.
Jim
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 07:43 PMAside from the fact my work-group is pretty awesome, we can discuss most anything, this is just way out there. How would Sam have felt if someone prayed to Shiva, Buddha, or someone else on his behalf? If you're going to pray, it should be between you and God. I'm almost 98% sure it even says that in the Bible...
Georgio MD
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 08:45 PMWhat an ignorant nutjob. These Christain whackos assume that everyone else around them is just as nutty. You should report him to your boss because if you don't he will do it again at the next opportunity because now he has tested you he thinks its OK.
Daniel
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 09:05 PMA similar thing has happened to me... as a 16 year old I visited a religious American family. I openly told them I did not believe in religion, yet I chose to attend a church service with them (out of respect, and a desire to experience American culture). Upon my return to their house, a couple of them took it upon themselves to pray for me... I remember feeling awkward about the whole situation - not wanting this religious attention focused on me, yet I respected their beliefs enough not to tell them to quit it.
I imagine Adrian would have felt a similar feeling. My experience took place in a private residence and it was bad enough, in the workplace is unacceptable. I'll bet Sam would feel mighty uncomfortable with a Wiccan coven performing a healing ritual on him, why does he think that this kind of behaviour is any better coming from him?
Keep religion in the churches. And make those churches pay taxes, but that's a different story.
I would have to do some research, but I thnk that in America, this sort of thing is illeagle. Now I'm not sure what all the in and outs are. But I do no for sure that you cannot hold a religious service your place of work. If I worked there, I would throw a fit.
Laiste
Wednesday 19th November 2008 | 06:05 AMI totally agree with deb. Its not so much the religious or praying part that bothers me so much as the uninvited nature of it. Is there such a thing as religious harassment? If so, I would think this is it.
I couldn't agree more with deb. And he probably didn't really mean to be offensive, but still... I was thinking someone should really talk to him about that incident. You shouldn't ignore it just because he's the new guy. But then again maybe he would offended... Aaargh, religions, why o why...
...in response to this comment by Johan. Good point, but now it's been more than a couple of weeks since I left the company I'm not in any position to talk. But I do know that Adrian is reading this article and so are a few others who work there and know about the incident.
Speaking of - hey guys - be sure to let me know if anything like that happens again. Enquiring minds want to know :-)
Adrian
Wednesday 19th November 2008 | 09:19 AMYou'll be the first to know Mikey!!
The healing didnt work for me, but it did take me completely by surprise, all I could think was to joke that it felt better already, which produced an awkward moment as he looked at me and said "really" as if he genuinely believed that he could heal me.
This was the first time anything like this had happened to me, and at the time I considered it more amusing than offensive. It still doesnt bother me that much and its a story Ill always remember, but I think this is definitely something that should be left well away from the workplace.
GMS
Wednesday 19th November 2008 | 01:36 PM...in response to this comment by Adrian. Well, you truly are a good sport, Adrian! Kudos to you. :)
While I'm sure this sort of things does not cause physical harm, it comes across as "showy." If Mike says Sam is nice, then I believe it, and will give Sam the benefit of doubt and presume he hasn't yet read this in his bible: (This is not my attempt to preach, just laying down the truth of the matter for clarification):
Matthew 6
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners TO BE SEEN BY MEN. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
It's so simple even a child can understand it.
Bob
Wednesday 19th November 2008 | 02:05 PMA similar thing happened to me many years ago in the work car park. He was a Television Director and I was an Editor working for him at the time. I had a headache and much to my surprise while walking to my car after my shift had ended, he saw me, walked over and put his hand on my forehead. He then said I will pray your pain away. I stood there in shock and not wanting to offend a fellow workmate I agreed that my headache was much better at the end of the pray. If I had not said something he would have tried again. These days I would politely tell him or her to stop as it makes the unwilling participant uncomfortable. This is all it takes now, a short talk on how it can make you feel. No need to be angry or abusive about it - just a simple "please stop". Hopefully friendships will remain and respect kept in tacked.
Jake Farr-Wharton
Wednesday 19th November 2008 | 02:54 PM...in response to this comment by Bob. Bob, you are a bigger man than I. I am sure that the only polite thing I could bring myself to do in response is to politely elbow the guy in the 'jesus flower' or 'voice box' for those not in the know.
SacDuck
Thursday 20th November 2008 | 02:57 AMBob, I would have kicked him in the sack and called in a sexual harasment complaint. A while back I had to visit several office workstations to apply a startup file to one of my .net apps. In one corner of our office we have three holy queens that openingly pray and make stupid god comments to people. I had to sit at one of their desks and it happened to have a bible in the chair. I sat on it and was just about finish when the gal comes over and starts screaming. Just before standing up I farted and said "thank you baby jesus". She came unglued and ran to the manager. I dislike being "blessed" if I sneeze and will usually reply "Spare me your superstitions". A few times I have instead displayed the possessed vodoo like body convulsions then suddenly stopping and thanking them for getting that demon out of me.
In general, I say leave your religion at home when you go to work. That said, this was actually a well intended gesture (albeit a very dorky one). Also, I find many atheists are just as quick to tout their own beliefs publicly as those they criticize for the same practice.
For the record - raised Catholic - converted atheist with a respect for all religions practiced peacefully. Oh yea, and I still go to church on holidays because it makes Mom happy.
Meredith
Friday 2nd January 2009 | 06:52 AMYou have to wonder what happened in his life that was so devastating that he doesn't care that brining religion to work can get him into trouble or worse.
deb
Tuesday 18th November 2008 | 01:40 PMI think it is inappropriate anywhere, especially at a workplace, and most especially UNINVITED. Even if both parties were in agreement to engage in this "process", they should conduct and/or participate in such activities in private, outside the workplace.