Bible Study At The Workplace?

Interesting. This just wouldn't happen in Australia, not because of any ban but because it is alien to our way of life.
We would see this as an American phenomenon.

That said, when I worked in a catholic school we began every day with a prayer or reflection to set the tone for the day. Half the staff were noncatholics but we were never made to feel like outsiders. It was not an exercise in evangelism.
 

A "cult", no way! There are plenty of Pastor's, Minister's, Priests and other Clergy that would really debate you on that word. But, as I'm told to say sometimes....."to each their own".

Cookie said:
Actually, no one is allowed in my building unless they live here or are guests or tradespeople. Everyone else including salespeople and donation seekers are 'soliciting' and unless they have permission to be here, are trespassing. So the religious prosethelizers banging on our doors are a nuisance and not supposed to be here. I see them trying to recruit people into what I consider to be a cult.
Click to expand...
 
I have to admit, I like your reply. Thanks!

AZ Jim said:
We disagree but that's ok....it is supposed to be that way in a free society. Like I said, I don't go to their door and I don't want them at mine.
Click to expand...
 

Well, like everything else Jim, things are changing in the workplace and out constantly. Some good, some not so good and some.........downright BAD!!

AZ Jim said:
I worked over 30 years for a huge Corporation, General Dynamics. We had no such groups on company properties.
Click to expand...
 
ClassicRockr said:
BTW, it's not just religious people who can knock on your door, it's salesman, high school students wanting people to sign up to support the sport their in and on and on. So, let's not pick on religious people for doing what others do........trying to talk you into something you don't want.
Click to expand...

That's the way I view any person knocking on my door to sell me their religion, a salesman....and none of them are welcome, as per my 'no soliciting' sign on the door.
 
Unfortunately, SB, a lot of people just don't pay attention to signs today. Put a sign on your door and, sometimes, they won't even pay attention to it. Then, unfortunately, it can turn into a "confrontational" thing w/the home owner getting pissed. We have a "no soliciting" sign by the driveway, just inside the entrance to our apt. complex, and some Solicitor's don't even look at it and come right in and start putting fliers on doors or a high school group knocking on doors asking for support for their Team.

SeaBreeze said:
That's the way I view any person knocking on my door to sell me their religion, a salesman....and none of them are welcome, as per my 'no soliciting' sign on the door.
Click to expand...
 
Dame Warrigal said:
Interesting. This just wouldn't happen in Australia, not because of any ban but because it is alien to our way of life.
We would see this as an American phenomenon.

That said, when I worked in a catholic school we began every day with a prayer or reflection to set the tone for the day. Half the staff were noncatholics but we were never made to feel like outsiders. It was not an exercise in evangelism.
Click to expand...

Let me tell you from experience having worked for both Catholic and Protestant facilities... The Catholics were far less intrusive. They really didn't push the prayer or lectures from Chaplins like where I work now. I don't think Evangelism is a big thing in the Catholic Church.
 
I just don't think a Bible study at the workplace is a good idea. As someone said above, it would tend to "sort" people by religion, and I don't think that is EVER a good idea at work.

I always needed my lunch hour to get out out of the place and away for a bit, anyway, for the sake of my sanity and to loosen up my neck and shoulders (computer work).

As to the "paid" lunch hour -- I don't think I've ever had one of those. Matter of fact, it was a HUGE bone of contention when one firm I worked for wanted to have staff meetings now and then on our lunch hour (which wasn't paid). Happy to say the employees won the battle.

As QS mentioned above, when I worked for a Catholic institution many years ago, meetings were started with a prayer, but at a religious institution you have to expect that. Nobody ever evangelized, though, and folks of other religions were respectful during the prayer. At a secular business it is a whole 'nother kettle of fish and I just think religious practices are inappropriate in the secular workplace.
 
Let me first say that I consider myself a liberal, and I am a nonbeliever. But I can't for the life of me see anything wrong with people using their lunch hour for Bible study if they so wish. If the Bible study were organized by the management of the company, and people felt pressured into taking part, that would be immoral, IMO. But it sounds like this is a completely voluntary activity by those who wish to take part.

During their lunch breaks, people generally sit with whomever they wish, and discuss whatever they wish. If they are allowed to talk about the latest movies, the latest political sex scandals, world affairs, books they are reading, their kids, their health problems, etc., why not allow religious studies also?

I personally would not take part, and would tend to just ignore it. But I think they have the right to do it.
 
ClassicRockr said:
Who in the heck is "dragging"? Don't agree with your thinking about what they are doing! They came to your door respectably and left the same way. What's so darn bad about that? BTW, it's not just religious people who can knock on your door, it's salesman, high school students wanting people to sign up to support the sport their in and on and on. So, let's not pick on religious people for doing what others do........trying to talk you into something you don't want.
Click to expand...

I agree with you CR. A few months ago a JW woman came to the door. I told her I didn't believe in any gods. She asked why and I said because I read the bible. I told her would be happy to have a discussion with her and we had a long conversation. Unlike many, she was willing to listen to my beliefs as well as tell me hers. People who come by to preach won't be welcome at my house but people who want a discussion, like this lady, are always welcome. no matter what their beliefs.
 
When I worked at a Catholic Hospital, they provided a room in the basement with a prayer rug and Quran for those who practiced Islam.. No such accomodations are made where I'm working now.. which is a Prostestant sect. Personally, I have found the Catholics to be more tolerant of non-Christains..
 
Years ago I lived and taught in an apartment in PA. It was fairly large, almost loft-like, and everything was open-plan, so my classes tended to be informal and I'd often prepare a post-class snack for my students. We'd sit around and munch while we talked martial arts and philosophy.

Wouldn't you know it, one day during our brunch two Watchtower folks knocked on the door. I invited them in and their eyes popped - weapons mounted on the walls, incense burning and, sitting cross-legged on the floor, ripping into eggs, bacon and toast were about 20 people all dressed in black pajamas. :playful:

I'm pretty sure they thought they had stumbled into some Satanic cult.

But to give them credit, they sat down on the floor with us, accepted some bacon and eggs and gave their spiel. Then I gave mine. We went back and forth for about 2 hours, the two of them trying hard to defend their views against 21 hard-core Taoists. It ended up being educational, although not in the way I'm sure they had expected.
 
Going back to the original question of Bible Study in the Workplace, I doubt that the company can stop people from spending their lunch time discussing whatever they wished. But as has been mentioned previously, that also means anything goes as far as other people doing something similar - it could get very diversified - with Christians, New Agers, UFO'ers, the eastern mysticism and yoga, wiccas, martial arts, etc. etc. groups sitting around doing their thing. It happens already when people do it in an unstructured, casual conversational way. Once it becomes an 'us and them' mentality though, IMO it is bad for the overall morale and may have negative effects.
 
QuickSilver said:
When I worked at a Catholic Hospital, they provided a room in the basement with a prayer rug and Quran for those who practiced Islam.. No such accomodations are made where I'm working now.. which is a Prostestant sect. Personally, I have found the Catholics to be more tolerant of non-Christains..
Click to expand...

I've worked in hospitals run by various denominations. The one that loved the book carts carrying Guns & Ammo and such, but wouldn't allow Redbook, etc. was the worst. Seventh Day Adventist hospital.

I am not Catholic, but my daughter attended a Catholic middle/high school. There were students from all over the globe and it was a great experience for her. And the Nuns made sure the Muslim students had open times for their daily prayers.

I can understand QS's post completely. And bravo to those Catholic institutions...tho' I must admit my experience/my daughter's experience was at a time before the uber conservatives in Catholicism became a force.
 
I think the only discussion group any company/employer would tolerate being done on their property would be a Bible Study. If an employer heard of a Satanic, UFO or whatever other group wanting to start up a group, to counteract the Bible Study group, the employer would lay down the hammer and say "sorry, can't have this type of group in my company" and take the backlash and possible law suit from it. Only thing is, most big company's have very good lawyers, and pay very good money to them. I seriously doubt any former employee can afford the lawyers a big company could. I do say "former employee", because most likely the employee who wants to start up such a group would no longer be working for the company with the results of a law suit pending.

I'm only saying the above, because sometimes people will say "if they can do it, so can we".........not necessarily true. Employers have the last word in what happens within their company......not the employee's! Employee's can suggest, but that's it.
 
ClassicRockr said:
I think the only discussion group any company/employer would tolerate being done on their property would be a Bible Study. If an employer heard of a Satanic, UFO or whatever other group wanting to start up a group, to counteract the Bible Study group, the employer would lay down the hammer and say "sorry, can't have this type of group in my company" and take the backlash and possible law suit from it. Only thing is, most big company's have very good lawyers, and pay very good money to them. I seriously doubt any former employee can afford the lawyers a big company could. I do say "former employee", because most likely the employee who wants to start up such a group would no longer be working for the company with the results of a law suit pending.

I'm only saying the above, because sometimes people will say "if they can do it, so can we".........not necessarily true. Employers have the last word in what happens within their company......not the employee's! Employee's can suggest, but that's it.
Click to expand...

If a Company, particulary a public company lets one group do it...why wouldn't they let every group that wishes to have meetings.. studies... etc on their lunch hour... Do you not see this as discriminatory? If taken to court.. (and an employee would have to have the ACLU behind them.. which they would..) the company would lose.... so NO Group would be allowed the privilege... Do you not see this as fair?
 
Yes, it would be "discrimination" and would not be fair, but it could happen AND, like it or not, "discrimination" and "unfairness" happens everyday/everywhere and a lot of times, nothing can be done about it. Just something everyone has to face as a "reality". As far as the court/law suit thing goes, there have been employer's out there that have had law suits for "unfairness" and "discrimination" dismissed for lack of proof or other stuff the employer can think up about the employee that done the law suit. Again, just the way it is.

I was in the workplace for many years, just like many of the members on this forum, probably experienced both "discrimination" and "unfairness" there. What could be done about it, basically nothing!

Another thing, many former employee's don't have the finances to retain a lawyer and, if they do lose the law suit, they have to pay the lawyer fees completely out of their pocket. Some lawyers don't require some type of upfront payment, but many do.

Anyway, "discrimination" or "unfairness" wouldn't make me quit the company and retain a lawyer, I'd just say "ok" to the employer's request of "no, I can't allow that". It can definitely mess up a employee's life when they "buck the system"/disagree with management and/or owners.
 
An employee most likely cannot sue by themselves... They would have to have the ALCU or the Labor Board behind them... It would also likely be a Class Action suit.
 
BUT, am I right about how much "discrimination" and "unfairness" is both in today's workplace and in society in general AND how complaining about it can make trouble for the person (his life) than just not saying anything? Say, for instance, an employee has been working for a company for numerous years and something happens (discrimination/unfairness) to where the employee has to quit and then decides to sue. Obviously, that former employee can't put that company on their resume or get a reference. Then what happens? Those years of experience with that company are gone. Just doesn't seem worth it to me!

QuickSilver said:
An employee most likely cannot sue by themselves... They would have to have the ALCU or the Labor Board behind them... It would also likely be a Class Action suit.
Click to expand...
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top