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Very religious colleague

568 replies

ThatLadyLady · 08/10/2025 06:46

I have a new colleague who is young, and very very religious. He isn’t quiet about his beliefs and in some ways I think that’s great, because he feels comfortable enough to be that way.

But in others it’s becoming quite uncomfortable. He will regularly ask people in the office what their opinion is on things like evolution, abortion and gay marriage. If they express a “non-Christian” belief he will laugh, tell them they’re wrong and explain what the bible says about these things. He won’t drop the subject even if people are visibly uncomfortable.

We listen to music in the office and he will object to almost anything that isn’t worship music. Someone played Sam Fender the other day (the consensus amongst the office was that it was a good playlist and we all enjoyed it), he asked for it to be changed because he doesn’t align with “Christian values”. So they switched on a different playlist, the first song was an Olivia Dean song and he started ranting about how she promotes sexual activity outside of marriage and that it’s wrong, women should be waiting until marriage etc.

He also expresses pretty strong views about women dating and it not being for marriage, that it’s “great” he has so many young female colleagues but he thinks we should be looking for marriage and to be a homemaker, etc etc.

I obviously don’t dispute his right to have these views, even if I disagree with them it’s his right. But would I be unreasonable to mention it to my manager quietly because his constant expression of these feelings is becoming quite uncomfortable?

OP posts:
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ThatLadyLady · 08/10/2025 08:48

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 08/10/2025 08:46

Was he trying to convert you? Jehovah's Witnesses actively proselytise every chance they get . What denomination is he?

I don’t know which denomination, I’ve not really got an interest in that side. I just know he’s very aggressively Christian!

OP posts:
QuickPeachPoet · 08/10/2025 08:48

I am a devout Christian. One of my best friends is also my vicar.
We both think this guy is insane and should be keeping his bigoted opinions private.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/10/2025 08:48

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 08/10/2025 08:44

It sounds to me like he's trying to strike up conversation, not convert anyone. I think with the way the OP is written, he's probably going to be let go anyway. I'd suggest the company treads carefully with this, though, because he might be able to claim unfair dismissal on religious grounds.

Oh come off it. His bullying everyone else into his choice of music or nothing isn’t remotely ‘trying to strike up a conversation’. His laughing and telling people they’re wrong if they disagree with him on various issues such as abortion, gay marriage and evolution aren’t conversational. Hmm

Permanentlymildlymiffed · 08/10/2025 08:47

Thenamechangecometh · 08/10/2025 07:00

Was he a Charlie Kirk fan by any chance?

It’s an incredibly patriarchal expression of religion (they - fundamentalist expressions of religions - more or less are ALL very patriarchal though aren’t they, so convenient for men - ‘here’s why I should be in charge and you should all submit to me’ goodness what IS it that attracts you to this belief system that puts you right on top ‘because God says so’)

This nails it. I’d point out to him that it’s very unchristian of him to be deliberately trying to shame people, judge not lest ye be judged, let he who is without sin cast the first stone etc. I’m Christian but this behaviour in the name of Christianity would infuriate me. It’s generally not religions that cause trouble, it’s people (usually men) twisting the scripture to justify their own agenda that causes trouble.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 08/10/2025 08:47

CatchingtheCat · 08/10/2025 08:42

His argument on music will fail too - it can be objectively justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim

What is the legitimate aim that requires pop music to be played?

‘Legitimate’ in that the other 39 colleagues like it.
He’s being a bully, and is being enabled because he’s using his religious beliefs to clonk everyone over the head with it.

If he simply said: turn the music off, i don’t like it. His colleagues would rightly say: tough.

But because his objections are because of his beliefs, his colleagues have to fall over themselves to accommodate him.

Well, fuck that.

deadpan · 08/10/2025 08:46

It might be worth talking to him and explaining that other people have protected characteristics that might be infringed upon if he keeps rabbitting on. If you have an HR department they would talk to you about this and maybe have a word with him. The flip side is, his opinions are protected too, but there might be a way of getting him to calm down.

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 08/10/2025 08:46

ThatLadyLady · 08/10/2025 08:43

If he was forcing his beliefs on me at work then no!

Was he trying to convert you? Jehovah's Witnesses actively proselytise every chance they get . What denomination is he?

ErrolTheDragon · 08/10/2025 08:45

Lighteningstrikes · 08/10/2025 08:37

It’s bizarre how all 39 of you are letting yourselves be brow beaten and dictated to by this one lone young newbie.

You must be a very kind bunch, but he needs to be told kindly and firmly to completely stop him in his tracks.

It may be relevant that the OP mentions the guy likes that he’s got so many young female colleagues.

ThatLadyLady · 08/10/2025 08:45

lljkk · 08/10/2025 08:36

40 people in the environment but not one of them is your manager?
How is your manager not already aware of his forceful annoying opinions?

My manager is here 99% of the time but is simply too busy for stuff like this, unless it’s bought to his attention

OP posts:
YorkshireGoldDrinker · 08/10/2025 08:44

ErrolTheDragon · 08/10/2025 08:42

He is the one who needs to ‘live and let live’. He is the one imposing his beliefs on everyone else.

It sounds to me like he's trying to strike up conversation, not convert anyone. I think with the way the OP is written, he's probably going to be let go anyway. I'd suggest the company treads carefully with this, though, because he might be able to claim unfair dismissal on religious grounds.

lljkk · 08/10/2025 08:44

Hope you update, OP. Esp. after your manager speaks to the religious colleague.

ThatLadyLady · 08/10/2025 08:43

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 08/10/2025 08:40

Live and let live, I say. Would you be happy if he were a devout Muslim or Jew? Their beliefs on gay marriage are very similar.

If he was forcing his beliefs on me at work then no!

OP posts:
DoinFineIThink · 08/10/2025 08:43

He's entitled to his beliefs but he doesn't get to wang on about them making other people uncomfortable and/or upset.
Totally inappropriate, especially in a workplace.
Oh and also what @GlastoNinja just said

CatchingtheCat · 08/10/2025 08:42

His argument on music will fail too - it can be objectively justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim

What is the legitimate aim that requires pop music to be played?

chunkybear · 08/10/2025 08:42

Religion has no place at work or school … unless you’re a church - get HR on board

ErrolTheDragon · 08/10/2025 08:42

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 08/10/2025 08:40

Live and let live, I say. Would you be happy if he were a devout Muslim or Jew? Their beliefs on gay marriage are very similar.

He is the one who needs to ‘live and let live’. He is the one imposing his beliefs on everyone else.

eish · 08/10/2025 08:41

You are right to want this navigated properly to avoid accusations of discrimination. Nevertheless it absolutely needs to be addressed.

JohnTheRevelator · 08/10/2025 08:41

I've met a few blokes (funny how it's always men!) over the years who've behaved in a similar way to your colleague. As an atheist I have zero interest in religion.10 years ago I would have politely listened to their views,but now I really cannot be bothered with their shite. If I get someone nowadays who starts spouting their religion at me (practically always Christians or Jehovah's Witnesses for some reason) I just say 'Sorry,I'm not a believer so you're wasting your time trying trying to convert me' and change the subject.

abathofmilkwithladydi · 08/10/2025 08:41

Free speech is fine in one's free time. A workplace e should be respectful and adhere to HR best policies.

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 08/10/2025 08:40

Live and let live, I say. Would you be happy if he were a devout Muslim or Jew? Their beliefs on gay marriage are very similar.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 08/10/2025 08:37

Crinkle77 · 08/10/2025 08:34

Just don't even engage. We have a bloke in work who isn't religious but is a conspiracy theorist type. I learnt a long time ago to not rise to the bait. Your colleague knows what he's doing and is trying to get a reaction. Deffo report to your manager.

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Lighteningstrikes · 08/10/2025 08:37

It’s bizarre how all 39 of you are letting yourselves be brow beaten and dictated to by this one lone young newbie.

You must be a very kind bunch, but he needs to be told kindly and firmly to completely stop him in his tracks.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 08/10/2025 08:37

ThatLadyLady · 08/10/2025 07:24

Because we don’t really have a choice. He will sit and talk over it about how awful it is until we change it

He’s not allowed to do that in the workplace.

His LM needs to have a quiet word with him and tell him to turn it in.

He needs to take a leaf out of Spock’s book: the needs of the many don’t outweigh the needs of the few.

He’s definitely been a pain in the arse where he worked before.

lljkk · 08/10/2025 08:36

40 people in the environment but not one of them is your manager?
How is your manager not already aware of his forceful annoying opinions?

CatchingtheCat · 08/10/2025 08:34

Maray1967 · 08/10/2025 08:28

Let’s start with saying that, if it happened, he would insist his daughter would carry a baby conceived through rape.

And then we’ll move on to his various views about the role of women in society.

Those are normal believe across huge swaths of America. People forget just how culturally different we are to America.

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