Very religious colleague

I just can't get my head around this at all. It's madness.

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.

Sounds like a MAGA incel TBH, all that shite about women in the workplace? It's harrassment and someone needs to take him aside to tell him that.

Complain to HR. He’s being inappropriate. His right to religious freedom doesn’t mean he can say whatever he wants

OP, it’s worth considering that protection under the Equality Act under the characteristic of religion or belief also covers a lack of religion or belief, and that’s before you even start looking at the misogynistic or homophonic comments he’s making.

He is creating a hostile/degrading/humiliating/offensive environment for you all - which is literally legal
discrimination.

His argument on music will fail too - it can be objectively justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, so it wouldn’t be indirect discrimination. He’d also likely fail the harassment test too, as it wouldn’t be objectively reasonable for playing the radio to have the effect of creating the same environment for him (assuming it’s censored pop music and not slipknot!)

TLDR - it’s fine to hold religious beliefs, but it is not fine to manifest them in an offensive manner in the workplace.

HR need to grow a pair and deal with him, but so may employers are risk averse.

Back to the point of the thread:
Either tell him - ideally politely - that his comments are offensive, or note down/record what he is saying and take it to HR. Personally I’d start with the first and then progress to the second when he probably continues.

Is he still in his probation period?
How is he getting work done if he is spending so much time proselytising.

Anyway, none of that stuff is appropriate for the workplace and I would have thought it is conduct issue for spouting sexist nonsense and other non-inclusionary drivel.

If he asks your opinion again on a controversial topic, clearly tell him that you are busy completing your work and you find his questions unprofessional.

If he doesn't let up then I would escalate to your managers.

This is why work places must remain professional environments. If you allow any sort of beliefs, including political beliefs (eg Progress Pride flags) into the work place then you cannot discriminate against those who hold alternative beliefs. It does not matter which belief is in the majority.

I am a Christian and partial to Aerosmith, AC/DC, Yungblud and all sorts. I work with Muslims, Hindus, and Seikhs. Nobody gets ‘offended’ by anything.

Your colleague sound like a twit. I see no reason why an entire office should bow down to the preference of 1 person. Ask him to wind it in. A personal relationship with Jesus needs to be just that. Work is work and religious browbeating should not be tolerated. What about the beliefs of atheists and agnostics. I I bet they don’t go On and on.

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.

It is absolutely inappropriate in the workplace.
Does your company have a policy on it?
Are any managers ever present in the same office as you/this guy? If so, I'm surprised and disappointed that none of them have addressed it yet.

Any road up, I'm glad you're going to speak to a manager. While it's easy to sit here and say, 'Just tell him to shut up about it,' I do appreciate that it isn't that easy in practice. More to the point, it is someone trained (HR) and/or paid more than you and your colleagues, ie management, who should bring it up.

This exactly what managers get paid not nearly enough for.

Just document actual incidents (factually) and pass this on.

I think you need to start with the point that he is distracting you a lot by asking non work related questions. It doesn’t matter tbh agree you with him or not - he doesn’t get paid for talking about sex before marriage and gay rights.
But then if you in any way give him the feeling that you disagree it moves to harassment.
it sounds an awful atmosphere to work in.

I love that Maggie Smith quote! 😂

You’re more patient than me. I’d be telling him he’s spouting bollocks and is a crashing bore to be around. I’d also report him for harassment.

Try flipping the topic and imagine he is discussing another protected characteristic under the equalities act.
he’s pushing his views on disabilities and (horrific example) everyone with a physical disability should stay at home…

pretty obvious his actions are harassment and need reporting to Hr and some serious management

I had this every night on a night shift,a white British Christian, telling me I MUST believe in God,a Muslim,who had extra breaks supposedly for prayer. I did complain,each time the latter screamed the racist card and got away with it! He was suspended countless times (not for this) solicitor and race card, came back every time. Then we had a very nice black African lady,who started. I tried politely saying I didn't want to discuss religion. Then I'm asked why,or why don't I "believe".

Why does renaming bigotry as religion means he gets a free pass? Say he is being misogynistic and discriminatory and provide examples and leave it there. Do NOT apologise because it’s religious.

Which ones weren’t?

This guy is completely out of order. You/others in the team need to speak to management. Personally I wouldn’t be pussyfooting around him so much - if he can state his beliefs, then how could he claim discrimination of someone else does likewise? His sexism and homophobia need challenging - maybe some basic training on equality legislation would be in order.
As to the music, insisting on ‘worship music’ and talking over anything else is simple bullying, as well as him being religiously discriminatory. Until the guy can be reined in/grows the fuck up , the suggestion to compile an instrumental playlist may be helpful.

Complaining about it is not against his religion. He is an annoying twat pushing his views on everyone. He can think and believe what he likes but he is making everyone in the office feel uncomfortable. It has to stop.

Majority does not rule though,

But you are saying it IS uncomfortable and difficult. So do something about it, it or put up with it.

It's completely unacceptable in the work place. One of my team is a JW. She is very quiet about her beliefs, never tries to "convert" anyone and in fact a lot of the team aren't even aware she's a JW.

You need to speak to your team manager.