Stranger in a Strange Land: Help a heathen among the believers

DiscoDriveby wrote:

I kind of panic about how to respond to a lot of the casual kindnesses (have a blessed day! I'm praying for you!) I'm always caught off guard.

This would definitely be the hardest part for me. As someone who has evangelical missionary in-laws I can keep quiet during a prayer. And I let everyone else say "Amen" and I don't. It would be the casual stuff that would throw me.

The real answer to all of this is to always respond with "All hail Eris!"

H.P. Lovesauce wrote:

I'm just wondering why this is a surprise at all if you toured the place first. I would have thought the first prominently displayed psalm or Precious Moments nativity scene would've been a red flag.

If I saw Precious Moments in a cubicle, I'd just assume the occupant was old.

garion333 wrote:
DiscoDriveby wrote:

I kind of panic about how to respond to a lot of the casual kindnesses (have a blessed day! I'm praying for you!) I'm always caught off guard.

Just say "thanks". Don't overthink things. If someone is genuinely saying a positive thing then "thanks" is usually good enough.

I usually manage a polite response without seeming off, it's just the initial panic of saying the wrong thing back. Like saying "you too" to someone who says thank you for shopping here but with blasphemy.

If you have read the Bible at least you have that going for you. If it comes up at least you can show that you aren't ignorant of their religion so it is slightly less likely they will try to gently force it on you (like "oops I left a copy of my Bible and a church flyer on your desk by mistake").

trichy wrote:

Yeah, let me go ahead and say that pretending to be something I'm not is not at all something I'm prepared to do. My beliefs are just as important to me as theirs are to them, and I don't feel like I should have to peruse a bible or say that I'm a sooper sekrit Christian to fit in.

Good on you. If they ask you about your beliefs (or lack of beliefs), all they're entitled to is an honest answer, if that. If they don't like your answers, they shouldn't be asking the questions.

Edit: side note: I went through a public education, including AP writing and literature, through to my Bachelor's degree, and the Christian Bible was never assigned reading. I know about as much about it as I know about the TV series Seinfeld (which I never really watched).

PoderOmega wrote:

If you have read the Bible at least you have that going for you. If it comes up at least you can show that you aren't ignorant of their religion so it is slightly less likely they will try to gently force it on you (like "oops I left a copy of my Bible and a church flyer on your desk by mistake").

As someone who has worked in retail, I can tell you, this happens all the time there. People leave these friggin' pamphlets and fliers everywhere. Always found it amusing that with an Islamic Center right across the street, we never had any pamphlets from them.

Demosthenes wrote:

As someone who has worked in retail, I can tell you, this happens all the time there. People leave these friggin' pamphlets and fliers everywhere. Always found it amusing that with an Islamic Center right across the street, we never had any pamphlets from them.

"Sharia law demands that all 2013 inventory must go!"

/brain mashup

http://samandfuzzy.com/55

Because I'm determined to be helpful. Or "helpful". Your choice.

I've worked in some pretty strongly religious workplaces, and most have been happy places. A lot depends on whether the outfit is religious or spiritual, as they're very different things. Religion, it seems to me, is about predefined answers, where spirituality is about questions. Strongly spiritual people, in my experience, have been wonderful coworkers, where the scripture-toting religious have not.

It sounds like your workplace tends toward the former, and you may end up being very content there, over the long term. Some of my very favorite people have been strong, liberal Christians. Atheists and religious people don't need to be at odds; in most cases, you're trying to answer the same basic questions of how to be a good person, and treat the people around you well. You may not share the same beliefs about why you should do those things, but your goals are often strongly aligned.

Good people are good people, no matter where they go on Sundays.

Kurrelgyre wrote:

Edit: side note: I went through a public education, including AP writing and literature, through to my Bachelor's degree, and the Christian Bible was never assigned reading. I know about as much about it as I know about the TV series Seinfeld (which I never really watched).

That's a shame; the references to the Bible in literature, pop and otherwise, are legion. And you'll miss most of them, like, perhaps, that one.

Robear wrote:
Kurrelgyre wrote:

Edit: side note: I went through a public education, including AP writing and literature, through to my Bachelor's degree, and the Christian Bible was never assigned reading. I know about as much about it as I know about the TV series Seinfeld (which I never really watched).

That's a shame; the references to the Bible in literature, pop and otherwise, are legion. And you'll miss most of them, like, perhaps, that one. :-)

Well, if he played ME2, he at least knows that one.

Demosthenes wrote:

Well, if he played ME2, he at least knows that one. :D

I'm pretty sure Red Dwarf predates that and, as a whole, serves to supplant most if not all biblical references necessary for cultural relevance.

As an athiest that lives in Colorado Springs, I get where you're coming from. I also applaud your choice not to pretend you're something you're not. I'd also add that if you're not curious or questioning to not pretend that you are as well.

As far as what I do when people say they'll pray for me, I say, "thanks." I choose to interpret it as a feeling of empathy towards me and appreciate it for what its worth.

Robear wrote:
Kurrelgyre wrote:

Edit: side note: I went through a public education, including AP writing and literature, through to my Bachelor's degree, and the Christian Bible was never assigned reading. I know about as much about it as I know about the TV series Seinfeld (which I never really watched).

That's a shame; the references to the Bible in literature, pop and otherwise, are legion. And you'll miss most of them, like, perhaps, that one. :-)

I only had Job assigned for any classes, through an MA in the humanities.

As long as no one is harassing you, offending you, or making you feel uncomfortable in any way it shouldn't be a big deal.

You're a minority in an homogenous majority led group. It may get awkward because there is a large shared experience there that you're not a part of and you're a minority of one, which can be tough for sure, but so far it sounds like you have the support of your higher ups and none of the dangerous things are happening. It sounds like you're making more of it than it is.

The caveat is that offense is taken not given, so if you're feeling harassed, offended, or uncomfortable, then yes, it's a big deal.

"I was a born a snake handler and I'll die a snake handler."

During morning prayer, maybe instead of studying the Christian Bible you could study the Christian Bale instead? He may not be the hero you deserve, but he's the hero you need.

"I was a born a snake handler and I'll die a snake handler."

From a snake bite?

During morning prayer, maybe instead of studying the Christian Bible you could study the Christian Bale instead? He may not be the hero you deserve, but he's the hero you need.

Trust Q-Stone to really distill the debate down to the essentials.

Squee9 wrote:

You're a minority in an homogenous majority led group.

I bet the apparent homogeneity isn't as uniform as it appears from the outside.

wordsmythe wrote:
Squee9 wrote:

You're a minority in an homogenous majority led group.

I bet the apparent homogeneity isn't as uniform as it appears from the outside.

Depends on your definition.

There are 21 total employees.
14 go to the same Southern Baptist church, and have for over two years.
5 more go to the same Church of Christ church. 4 of them have for over five years. One moved here last year, and just began attending.
That leaves 2 employees. Me, and one of our accountants. He is one of three pastors at a small Baptist church in his area. He's working remotely, because he's on a mission trip to Mexico for the next few weeks.

That seems pretty homogenous to me.

Who's that guy just a walkin' around?
When I blessed him, he said, "Thank you."
It seems he's now - the talk of the town,
and nobody knows what to do!

Well don't you worry. He's really swell.
The world's not about to end.
He's Trichy the Token Atheist
Our Godless heathen friend!

trichy wrote:

That seems pretty homogenous to me.

There's a lot of variety in beliefs and attitudes among even people who attend the same church. Church is as much a social gathering place as it is anything else.

EDIT: Never mind. Jesus loves you.

Clockworkhouse wrote:

trichy wrote:

That seems pretty homogenous to me.

There's a lot of variety in beliefs and attitudes among even people who attend the same church. Church is as much a social gathering place as it is anything else.

Well, isn't that kind of spreading the point a bit thin? Neither the CoC nor the SBC are usually "casual" churches; they tend to attract pretty devout and often politically active believers, and they both reject things like Ecumenism and Mormonism. They both emphasize witnessing.

Even if churches are social, the fact that these people joined a self-declared Christian company, attend churches with literalist and activist reputations, and presumably adhere to the codes of those churches speaks against the idea that they are just in it to meet people. The company is more likely to consist of those who have self-selected to work with other devout people.

Robear wrote:
Clockworkhouse wrote:

trichy wrote:

That seems pretty homogenous to me.

There's a lot of variety in beliefs and attitudes among even people who attend the same church. Church is as much a social gathering place as it is anything else.

Well, isn't that kind of spreading the point a bit thin? Neither the CoC nor the SBC are usually "casual" churches; they tend to attract pretty devout and often politically active believers, and they both reject things like Ecumenism and Mormonism. They both emphasize witnessing.

Even if churches are social, the fact that these people joined a self-declared Christian company, attend churches with literalist and activist reputations, and presumably adhere to the codes of those churches speaks against the idea that they are just in it to meet people. The company is more likely to consist of those who have self-selected to work with other devout people.

Perhaps the hiring of Trichy suggests they're aware of this, especially considering he's got the CEO's support. I'd also be curious to know what kind of non profits are they helping out?

Robear wrote:
Clockworkhouse wrote:

trichy wrote:

That seems pretty homogenous to me.

There's a lot of variety in beliefs and attitudes among even people who attend the same church. Church is as much a social gathering place as it is anything else.

Well, isn't that kind of spreading the point a bit thin? Neither the CoC nor the SBC are usually "casual" churches; they tend to attract pretty devout and often politically active believers, and they both reject things like Ecumenism and Mormonism. They both emphasize witnessing.

Even if churches are social, the fact that these people joined a self-declared Christian company, attend churches with literalist and activist reputations, and presumably adhere to the codes of those churches speaks against the idea that they are just in it to meet people. The company is more likely to consist of those who have self-selected to work with other devout people.

I didn't mean to suggest they were "just in it to meet people"; rather, I was trying to say that church congregations are, at heart, gatherings of people, and they won't all have the same ideas about or approaches to non-believers. It's the same point wordy made: "the apparent homogeneity isn't as uniform as it appears from the outside".

I have a lot of personal experience with the Church of Christ and Southern Baptists, and while some church members I've known adhere to the Bible-beating evangelical stereotypes getting tossed around, most didn't and had no problem interacting on a daily basis with non-believers and people of other faiths. Even in faith-based companies, of which there's no short supply around my part of the country.

edosan wrote:

As an athiest that lives in Colorado Springs, I get where you're coming from.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Even in faith-based companies, of which there's no short supply around my part of the country.

Yes, trust us individuals who are from or were from Colorado Springs as we're surrounded by the Christian religion. Not implying good or bad there, it's just the area. I loved it there. I'm no longer there, though.

trichy wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:
Squee9 wrote:

You're a minority in an homogenous majority led group.

I bet the apparent homogeneity isn't as uniform as it appears from the outside.

Depends on your definition.

There are 21 total employees.

That seems pretty homogenous to me.

Well, I think that's such a small amount of employees that it's quite easy to say it's a fairly homogenous group when it works out like this:

20 Christians
1 trichy

Getting any looser than that and we'll end up with this:

21 humans
0 aliens

or

1 person
1 person
1 person
etc.

I agree with both sides on this one: it is a homogenous group by certain views and it isn't by other views.

The more I think about it, this really is a trichy situation...
Now where did I put the link to that David Caruso picture?