Prayer in the workplace?

[Yuri-G]

the only part I really don't like is the part where he says "Through the power of prayer anything & everything is possible." that's a bit over the edge. but I guess he's free to say it. it'd certainly make me uncomfortable as a semi-non-believer (it's complex >_>) if my CEO did that.

[Jefe]

It's not out of place, you're reaching if you want it to be. If you take offense you have bigger issues than a boss sending you 'religious' emails. lol

This. God forbid (lol) someone wishes you a Merry Christmas... Oh hell naw.

[Ksandra]

This. God forbid (lol) someone wishes you a Merry Christmas... Oh hell naw.

ya I was thinking op is one of those people that deep down want to call Christmas Trees "Holiday trees"...oversensitive is oversensitive.

[zoobernut]

It isn't out of place (though the line "Through the power of prayer anything & everything is possible." is a little too far) until someone feels uncomfortable because of it. The workplace is a very dynamic environment with a lot of different people and one thing about working in a corporate environment is that it is the businesses job to create a hostile free comfortable work place for everyone. Working in a large office with a lot of people you have to make a lot of compromises about who you are in order to fit into the environment so everyone can feel comfortable.

As soon as these little memo's / emails make someone feel uncomfortable for whatever reason then it is out of place and inappropriate. Far more retarded things have been banned from the workplace because it created a hostile work environment for someone.

This pertains purely to a large company corporate environment, small businesses are different. But it is important to this thread because it sounds like the OP works for a large company.

Edit: There is a reason why these things always say "thoughts and prayers" or something along those lines. It makes it open and non threatening. Just saying prayer and then using the line about the power of prayer makes it sound forceful. I am sorry but Prayer is perceived as a religious action and can and will make people who are not religious uncomfortable.

[Maguspk]

Put the shoe on the other foot, it does go both ways I guess this guy has issues too right? I mean besides the obvious.

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Hampshire | Man refuses to drive 'No God' bus

So you linked another article with a similar breed of stupidity, nobody suggested it was a one-sided issue. Don't get too defensive.

[Mizango]

I don't have a problem with "Merry Christmas" at all. I mean, I still tell my nephews about the boogie man and the tooth fairy, so it doesn't bother me personally in the slightest.

I love the gift giving season!

[Mizango]

So you linked another article with a similar breed of stupidity, nobody suggested it was a one-sided issue. Don't get too defensive.

Defensive? I don't understand, whats there to get defensive about? I suppose calling me "defensive" is better than circular arguing, but yeah, I feel you.

[Jak]

I edited it into the original post but I was in no way really offended by it. Just more.. shocked is all.

Either way, the e-mail disappeared from everyone's e-mail that hadn't opened it yet. >_> Guess someone else was offended enough to say something.

[Mizango]

Turn it into a social experiment and send a pro-athiest mass email. If you're lucky you will get called out for being defensive too.

[Jak]

Pro-atheist e-mail in the south? Heeeell naw..

I enjoy my balls and not having my neck/body attached to a rope, thanks.. lol

[Neosutra]

It would make me uncomfortable and I certainly wouldn't see that in any establishment I've worked for, however I'd toss that in the "shit you can't do anything about" box. If it was your direct boss doing it then a side bar may be in order, but I usually delete VPs emails anyways.

[pohibaba]

No, there's nothing wrong with that type of e-mail. I honestly don't even notice stuff like that and just skim over it. The majority of America identifies themselves as religious and so there is always going to be a religious overtone to a lot of things. Had they of forced you to pray then you'd have a beef, but right now all your bosses bosses bosses boss is doing is asking you to keep an injured person in your thoughts. If you worked for a governmental institution, I may have had a different opinion, though.

[zoobernut]

No, there's nothing wrong with that type of e-mail. I honestly don't even notice stuff like that and just skim over it. The majority of America identifies themselves as religious and so there is always going to be a religious overtone to a lot of things. Had they of forced you to pray then you'd have a beef, but right now all your bosses bosses bosses boss is doing is asking you to keep an injured person in your thoughts. If you worked for a governmental institution, I may have had a different opinion, though.

Why? It doesn't matter what type of employees a company has they should not assume anything about them and do anything they can to have a comfortable work environment for everyone. My company sends out emails like this all the time and they never have any religious overtones. It would be so easy to just say keep them in your thoughts which leaves opening for everyone to do that in whatever way is ok with them and doesn't have any room for interpretation in a bad way. Why would you do something that does have room for a negative interpretation when there are alternatives that do not?

[Mizango]

Firas should mass email Jihad illustrated to everyone so I can see others get up in arms. Shits always kosher as long as it falls in line with your particular beliefs, when its not... oh lawd u betta watch out.

[pohibaba]

Why? It doesn't matter what type of employees a company has they should not assume anything about them and do anything they can to have a comfortable work environment for everyone. My company sends out emails like this all the time and they never have any religious overtones. It would be so easy to just say keep them in your thoughts which leaves opening for everyone to do that in whatever way is ok with them and doesn't have any room for interpretation in a bad way. Why would you do something that does have room for a negative interpretation when there are alternatives that do not?

Would I prefer that everyone leave religion out of every facet of life? Of course I would, I'm an atheist. I just simply don't understand why anyone would ever feel uncomfortable about that e-mail, it's fucking silly.

[zoobernut]

Would I prefer that everyone leave religion out of every facet of life? Of course I would, I'm an atheist. I just simply don't understand why anyone would ever feel uncomfortable about that e-mail, it's fucking silly.

Ok so it seems silly to you, what if it was genuinely uncomfortable for someone else? Are their feelings not valid?

How would you feel if you found something offensive or uncomfortable and everyone else was saying you were silly but provided no valid arguments of why you were silly for feeling that way?

[Mizango]

I personally agree with pohibaba, I'd just like the OP to take advantage of the situation and turn this into a social experiment on the boundaries of human tolerance.

Change one word in that email and you would have that place in a frenzy.

[zoobernut]

I personally agree with pohibaba, I'd just like the OP to take advantage of the situation and turn this into a social experiment on the boundaries of human tolerance.

Change one word in that email and you would have that place in a frenzy.

My personal stance is in line with Pohibaba as well however I would not put someone else down or call them silly if they did say it made them feel uncomfortable. And the very reason is that if you did change the wording in the email to be pro-atheist the reaction would be much different.

I would also be arguing the same thing if the email was pro-atheist or pro-voodoo or anything, if the email asked people to sacrifice a chicken at their desks to help the people in need it would be just as bad.

(I know its a bad analogy.)

[pohibaba]

Ok so it seems silly to you, what if it was genuinely uncomfortable for someone else? Are their feelings not valid?

How would you feel if you found something offensive or uncomfortable and everyone else was saying you were silly but provided no valid arguments of why you were silly for feeling that way?

No. If you become genuinely uncomfortable about a single phrase that was most likely thrown out there because of habit then your feelings are not valid. You're simply an immature person who's not comfortable with your own beliefs.

This is like a black person becoming uncomfortable because I refer to them, or someone else, as black. You have every right to feel that way, but I'm not going to validate them because it's fucking silly. It's a half-hearted phrase used out of habit.

[zoobernut]

You are right, in any situation other than a work place that is ok. However because it is a work environment the employees including the higher ups have a responsibility to be more mindful of their actions and their words and not revert to saying any half-hearted phrase used out of habit if it makes someone feel uncomfortable.

A lot of people use curse words as half-hearted phrases outside of work but it is not appropriate to throw them around at work just because you think it is silly for someone to get offended by them.