To have objected to ‘prayers’ at work

@MissionBiscuits When it comes to American evangelicals, their political leanings are very much not irrelevant to their religious beliefs. For an awful lot being a Christian and being a Republican are one and the same.

The point I am making is that the same request for a prayer could have been made by a Democrat. While a higher proportion of Republicans are religious, this does not mean that being religious and being Republican are linked- just that they are correlated. So MAGA lady being a Trump supporter isn't actually relevant.

I actually can't believe this is even being entertained and I speak as a practicing Catholic. It's mental.

Do you know what "state" means? "Separation of church and state" in the US has nothing to do with privately-owned businesses.

When it comes to American evangelicals, their political leanings are very much not irrelevant to their religious beliefs. For an awful lot being a Christian and being a Republican are one and the same.

I wouldn't have believed this post, but recently went to US and we went to a restaurant with colleagues there. American colleagues joined hands for grace. I'm Christian but grew up in a staunchly secular country and am used to beliefs being personal. It was really weird.

He led prayers with his own family at Ramadan not his colleagues.

Don't be so ridiculous.

Full rosary at least.

Not sure why the fact she’s a Trump supporter is relevant here? Is the prayer going to celebrate Trump being the new President of the USA or something? If it’s a prayer, of course it’s not appropriate to ring fence the entire team in. And I consider myself a Christian, but would still think it in appropriate.

@Iamthewintersale I don't get what the issue is. Freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion. I'm indifferent to other people practicing their religion. So if she wants to have a prayer on the call, go for it.

I worked in a workplace that had a number of muslim colleagues. On occasion, I would see them roll out their prayer mats in the office and start praying. Whenever that happened, I would stay silent as a courtesy and carry on working. I think anyone who would get annoyed or offended by that must be a particularly bored person with a lot of free time on their hands.

By the way, the political leanings of your colleague are irrelevant. Religion is a broad church and different religious people will have different political perspectives.

I wouldn't put up with that.

It's intrusive and presumptuous.

There is absolutely no reason for a prayer before a meeting.

If it goes ahead, I would excuse myself for the duration. If questioned, I would politely say that as you are not a Christian and as prayers within meetings are not used in the UK that it makes you uncomfortable.

It's an absolite piss take to even try to shoe it in, IMO.

She thinks she can get away with it now when she might not have before and she's probably right. No faith required.

Absolutely not appropriate. Ask for it to be removed but If your bosses insist it stays on the agenda then tell them you’ll be logging off or removing yourself for that section of the meeting as it goes against your own beliefs
Your bosses are wrong btw, it’s not harmless when a member of the team pushes their beliefs and agendas on others

I'm a Christian and I would feel very uncomfortable with this. It is not appropriate for a professional setting.

Has she seen what the pope thinks of Trump and his “un-Christian acts”?

DH worked in Nigeria and they used to start meetings with a prayer. He just sucked it up. At one meeting they asked him to do the prayer, but he refused that. I've been at meals where people say grace I just bow my head and don't join in.

Tell her you support the separation of church and state and as such will not participate in any prayer activity at work.

Oh bloody hell. We’ve wandered into the land of you can’t say nuffin these days. Reversing my ferret. Peace out.

I think you need to let people know you follow the Greco/Roman gods and require a priest to sacrifice a bull before the meeting and also that an augur needs to decree if the meeting can go ahead or if the gods are against it.

I was once in a slightly similar situation. When it was my turn to host the meeting, I played «God» by John Lennon…

There is absolutely no way this would be allowed in my workplace.

Oh they exist, for sure.

Just not so conveniently for the pleasure of whipping up Trump supporting outrage the day after said president is inaugurated. With all the required tick boxes.

But if you want to make someone's day, keep believing! It almost requires faith!

Oh crikey, i also work for an American global company and this BS would not be tolerated. No religion would be performed in this way for fear of upsetting other faiths in the meeting. Its surely an written rule??! In a world where its not PC to say “merry Christmas” for fear of upsetting others, im struggling to see how management can authorise this!

If the Christians get to impose their nonsense beliefs/prayers in meetings, then equality demands that so should others. The Zoroastrians have some nice short prayers.

Nothing, it’s just an excuse to have a dig at people who voted Republican. In fact I’m not even convinced it’s real.

Hopefully the line manager listens and if she wants to do it in the states for her US colleagues then she can if the others want to she can set a voluntary meeting request prior to the meeting!

Agree it had no place in the workplace unless your working in a religious school, are a minister or you work for a religious charity etc.