To have objected to ‘prayers’ at work

Well said, @Iamthewintersale

I'm not interested in superstition or fairy tales, and certainly don't want others' invisible overlords having any influence in my life.

@Iamthewintersale maybe ask to start with afternoon tea or elevenses in future as a good cuppa is just as important here

Some religious people do, but most don't. Do you apply that to all religious people no matter what the religion?

You're free to be atheist, agnostic or whatever you want, you don't have to be a cunt about people who don't think like you though. And it doesn't make you superior just because you don't have faith or follow a religion. I find that atheists tend to be the most aggressive bordering nasty about it, that's just my experience though.

@alwaysontheloo

If the "religious" would stop shoving their superstitions down others' throats, and stop trying to influence public policy, they'd encounter less sneering.

There's a lot of superior sneering at the religious on this thread. None of which makes anyone on it 'good'.

Just consider it a natural balance to the superior hectoring of religions to the areligious.

Obviously.

But faith is a personal thing and as you said is not synonymous with whether someone is 'good' or 'bad'. Equally being religious doesn't make someone bad either, nor does not being religious make one 'good'.

There's a lot of superior sneering at the religious on this thread. None of which makes anyone on it 'good'.

While it's true that faith and religion are not synonymous, the original point still stands - faith has bugger all to do with whether a person is good or bad. What determines how good/bad we are are the choices we make and the actions we perform.

That's religion you're talking about. Which is a separate thing to faith.

A person can have faith without following a religion.

Yep !

We may be in fierce agreement. However the starting point to stamp out this bullshit before it catches on is to start with an acknowledgement that your religion means fuck all to me.

By all means, if you religion says you need to do the hokey-cokey every day before a bowel movement, then I would never dream of stopping you.

However, if you religion says we all need to do the hokey-cokey every day before a bowel movement, then you can fuck right off in all the languages I can remember.

Yes, you are special. And so am I. Deal with it.

Fear is definitely the only thing that keeps some people in line, but that's completely unrelated to morals imo. If your only reason for not murdering your entire family is a fear of god/hell/jail, you're really not a good person even if you call yourself a Christian (or Muslim or Jew or whatever).

I don't think most employers (or employees) are in favor of making the workplace "a free-for-all" though. 🥊 Work is stressful enough without having to deal with that nonsense. Hence my comment that people need to proselytize on their own time.

I have to be honest. sometimes fear of punishment helps 😀But that would still be a secular response.

In the event there is an afterlife, then by the very definition of the supernatural it will be beyond our reach. In fact the only thing less likely than there being some sort of afterlife is that I need Russell Brand to explain it to me.

Or make it a free-for-all and allow all personal views to be expressed.

I am sure someone will have something to say about Man. Utd. this season ?

Your belief in a sky fairy may be important to you, but to some it's as valid as your favourite SugarBabe.

I agree completely. I'm amazed and a bit horrified by the number of people I've heard make comments about how "everyone" would rob, murder or rape if they thought they wouldn't go to jail or hell, apparently oblivious to the fact that some of us actually have morals and integrity that are totally unrelated to fear of punishment.

It's still inappropriate and unprofessional. "Express your religion" on your own time.

People should remember that as far as the Christianity is concerned, we are all sinners. People don’t go to church because they are better than others. It is because they want to do better. Or should do.

Faith has fuck all to do with whether a person is a good or a bad person.

And if someone "needs" faith to be a good person then I would argue they aren't a good person.

Yes, it can be lonely having to always look to my own conscience. And scary. However, if I should fall from grace, let it be because of my own failings, and not because I mindlessly aped other people who claimed to be the arbiters of morality. Because that is what a lynch mob is, and I want no part of it.

I don't have any respect for others' faith.

I do have respect for the people with faith. Subtle but very important distinction.

Lol, that reminds me of the time I was told by a Christian that he was surprised to find out I was an atheist, as I had such good morals.

Some zealous religious people are very judgmental.

Typically absolutely fine in my experience.

I tend to find in day to day life that those with a faith tend to have far more respect for others faith than those with none do.

Commonly demonstrated in church schools, where admissions criteria tend to run along the lines of :
practising our faith
practising other faith
have our faith
Have none.