How Do I Deal With Religious Zealots at Work?

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TheVegetarianHumanist1996's picture
How Do I Deal With Religious Zealots at Work?

At my seasonal job, one of my superiors is an elderly religious orthodox Jew. I'm not accusing him of any malintent. He keeps pushing the religion onto me because he knows that I'm from a Jewish family. He's friendly with my mom. I feel uncomfortable in regards to it. I push my feelings under the rug b/c it happens at work. I honestly feel like he should mind his own business.

My superior feels like it's his mission to make Jewish workers more religious. I'm really upset with him and I'm afraid to tell him. My workplace feels like a Safe Space for SJWs. Because of that and that he's my superior, I feel weak. What should I do?

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Old man shouts at clouds's picture
Depends on your jurisdiction,

Depends on your jurisdiction, In Australia that behaviour could be cause for a formal complaint if he doesn't pull his head in. Some states in the US don't allow it, but its difficult to get anywhere as the US does'nt have much in the way of employment protections and formal processes to rectify such things..

You could always get another job it that were possible then write it in as "reason for leaving"

Sushisnake's picture
I can't add anything to Old

I can't add anything to Old Man's comment, but I do have a question: how does having someone's religious views forced down your throat equate to a Safe Space for SJWs?

Old man shouts at clouds's picture
Being old enough to have to

Being old enough to have to google SJW, your comment makes a lot of sense now!

Nyarlathotep's picture
SJW is a pejorative term

SJW is a pejorative term typically used by reactionary misogynists; generally used to dismiss their opponents (anyone who suggests women should be treated the same as men).

algebe's picture
@Nyarlathotep: "anyone who

@Nyarlathotep: "anyone who suggests women should be treated the same as men"

That now includes the nation of Iceland.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/women-of-iceland-are-now-required-to-earn-e...

CyberLN's picture
I think I will consider

I think I will consider becoming an ex-pat and go there. ;)

Sushisnake's picture
@Nyar

@Nyar

Re: SJW is a pejorative term typically used by reactionary misogynists; generally used to dismiss their opponents (anyone who suggests women should be treated the same as men)

It’s used to dismiss liberals and the left, too.

TheVegetarianHumanist1996's picture
I use the term for people on

I use the term for people on both sides of the aisle who impose their views onto others while censoring opposing opinions.

Mgoose's picture
Or perhaps misogynist is a

Or perhaps misogynist is a term used by misandrists for anyone that disagrees with their point of view or hurts their bigoted feelings when they typically demand wamen are treated not qually but given preferential treatment.

TheVegetarianHumanist1996's picture
I feel backed into a corner

I feel backed into a corner and I keep my feelings to myself to avoid hurting their feelings. + my mom would be angry with me if I said anything.

Grinseed's picture
I'm probably wrong (its an

I'm probably wrong (its an unintentional hobby with me) but I thought it was an accepted view among most Jews that anyone's relationship with the Abrahamic god was a creation of that god and no-one had a right to intervene in it even if that person was a non-believer. They have stopped stoning people, haven't they?
Maybe tell him that. And look for another job in the meantime.

algebe's picture
There's a century-old cereal

There's a century-old cereal manufacturing group in Australia and New Zealand called Sanitarium. It was founded by a baker from Kellogg's Sanitarium in Battle Creek and is wholly owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. They pay no tax because they operate as a religious organization.

Friends who worked there back in the 60s complained to me that they were forced to join in prayers at the start of work everyday. I don't know if that practice still continues. I think it's probably illegal these days. I'd like to boycott them because of their religious tax exemption status, but their products are really very good. So I hypocritically eat their cereal and drink their soy milk.

Cronus's picture
Algebe..

Algebe..

A bit of a tangent - but concerning those goofy cereal makers in Battle Creek - see if you can, find the movie "The Road to Wellville". It's a fun, convoluted look at a bit of real history. An eye opener at what people sometimes believe.

algebe's picture
"Chew, chew, chew: good food

"Chew, chew, chew: good food is good for you"

I've got that one in my collection. One of the funniest movies ever made. I see it as a satire on religiosity, complete with missionaries and high priests. You could easily imagine all those health nuts joining the Mormons, Scientology, or drinking Coolaid with Jim Jones.

Cognostic's picture
I've got a religious co

I've got a religious co-worker and so far, I have nailed him on every religious comment he has made. It helps knowing more about the bible than Christians. Last week I proved to him that he was a soul and not that he had a soul. "God breathed into him and made him a living soul." Soul in the old testament means breath. It was not until the New Testament Christians got hold of the word that it became this eternal essence of human beings. So I guess, I am educating him.

I won a 10 dollar bet off of him when I told him that he had to hate his own family members to follow Jesus. He swore to me nothing like that was in the bible. So I bet him 10 bucks. (Luke 14:26) "King James Bible
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

Here is something. When a Christian says something, remember it and then look it up. 90% of the time, they are wrong. They say all sorts of stuff that Just isn't true. "Jesus Loves you?" Really?

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV /
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

1 Corinthians
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Luke 19:27 ESV
But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

Revelation 21:8 ESV (We are the FAITHLESS)
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 10:34 ESV
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Okay, you get the hint. There is nothing that Jesus says to the non-believers that is loving. You wanna be a non-believer, you suffer and die and then suffer and die some more.

Grinseed's picture
The Luke 19:27 quote is part

The Luke 19:27 quote is part of a story Jesus is telling about "a certain noble" who demands his enemies be slaughtered before him. That parable starts 19:12.
It wasn't Jesus being brutal that time, well not directly at least. All the other instances you've quoted he was.
Wouldn't want you to give your co-worker a chance to take back his $10.

Randy in Alberta's picture
Tell him to fork off. Get

Tell him to fork off. Get another job.

Tin-Man's picture
@Conan

@Conan

Howdy, Conan. Welcome to the site. Good to have you aboard. On a bit of a side note, we certainly could have used you on the Yellow Brick Road when those damn flying monkeys attacked. Where were you, bro?

TheVegetarianHumanist1996's picture
Sorry I got back to you late.

Sorry I got back to you late. I haven't been on AR as much.

I agree, but I didn't wanna be disrespectful. Also, It's an informal job and the most accessible one to me at the moment. I'm trying to put up with it w/out being disrespectful. My saving grace is that when the day ends, I can go up to my bedroom and take my mind off of it.

Cognostic's picture
Tell him and live with a new

Tell him and live with a new problem or just stick with the old familiar problem. Make a choice. Choosing not to choose is the same thing as choosing the old familiar problem. All you got in life is the freedom to make a choice. You do not get to have everyone else act in ways YOU like. Sorry.

livi.krueger's picture
I find the easiest thing to

I find the easiest thing to do with the religious at work is to try and ignore them as much as possible. I live in the States where prayer at most work places and all public institutions is illegal, but the people enforcing these laws are usually religious and tend to look the other way.

I let it slip once at work that I was an atheist to a confidant and they looked at me like I was crazy. They got over it and we were fine, but it was a good reminder to me that people just knowing that you’re an atheist can effect your working relationships negativity.

I tend to avoid answering leading questions that are clearly trying to figure out which church I go to (obviously none) or what religion I belong to. I’ll redirect the conversation back to work related maters immediately, go into an active listening mode, and avoid answering any questions about my own beliefs. Redirecting the conversation is a helpful coping tool but making sure not to expose yourself is important especially with a religious supervisor.

On a personal level, I don’t think it should be this way. Coping should only be used short term until you can find a new job. I personally don’t think it’s healthy to be in a situation like that long term if it can be avoided.

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