That prayer to Jesus is inappropriate at a company party?

All these posters claiming Christmas is and can only be seen as a religious festival celebrating the birth of Christ: that is, in reality, not at all what Christmas is to millions of people all around the world, who celebrate it for their own reasons and in their own ways. You may be Christians, but you don’t have a monopoly on how and why Christmas is celebrated. You will think that logically, theologically, you should as Christianity was the genesis of the Christmas celebration (it wasn’t but we’ll move past that). But this is what happens when capitalism gets its hands on your faith. It happens to all faiths in some shape or form, all over the world. Up to you how you you reclaim
it if you want to reclaim it as just a religious festival. I suspect you can’t - but you can do your own thing and leave everyone else to do theirs. Probably easier and more in the actual spirit. Hence the raised eyebrow at the prayer in a secular and work situation.

It’s a bit strange, but not offensive in my opinion. Maybe the woman who said the prayer is very religious and was heavily involved in organising the event. We are in a Christian country after all, so these things are not to be entirely unexpected.

Given there’s no historical evidence that Christ was born on Dec 25th or in fact in Dec I think it’s off to expect everyone to bow their heads and pray at a Christmas party.

If people are so wimpy that they prayed along with Mavis when it wasn’t what they wanted to do then they need to be taken out and spoken to.

Another atheist here, and hey ho, whatever :-)

HOWEVER

It depends on what was said in the prayer.

There are a fair few cases in the US where fundie Christian politicians do prayers at state senates etc, with the wording designed to offend/dismiss/insult those of other faiths in attendance.

I am not saying that did happen here, but it is something to be aware of ?

'Islamophobia: Critics decry Christian prayer at swearing-in of Muslim lawmaker - ABC News (go.com)

It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. But I am used to international travel for work and have often been hosted at events and festivals for cultures and religions that I don’t personally celebrate. I generally enjoy the opportunity to be included in someone else’s celebration of their faith. I don’t feel threatened by it, and I am not shocked by it.

It does seem to be a very British thing - to feel threatened by the celebration of the national religion. Maybe it comes from colonial guilt?

The party sounds like it was full of absolute melts. Def not a party to ever attend again

I would be offended if a Muslim preyed at me, yes. Luckily it wouldn’t happen.

the main point is a work Xmas party is (despite the reaching on here) undoubtedly a secular event. It was inappropriate

If Jesus did exist, hasn't it been suggested that he was actually born in September and it was the Romans who superimposed it over a previous 'pagan festival', that occured at the end of the year, when they adopted Christianity?

(I think I've attended Christmas parties that were far more pagan than Christian!) 🍷🍾😜

The intolerance on here is astounding. Next you will be saying Muslims can’t take time out to pray during the working day. So many intolerant people on here

Oh no!! Anyway…

Imagine being offended by Jesus.

I agree with these points. I feel really very comfortable celebrating christmas as a winter festival, as an athiest. But also, OP, I come from a very religious family (so religious in their christianity that they don't celebrate christmas) and whenever they pray, I don't bow my head or even close my eyes. I listen to and look at the one doing the prayer, and am just thinking about the message they're giving in the method they feel most accurately communicates that.

i’m a practicing Catholic and celebrate Christmas as a religious festival at Mass. I don’t expect it to be forced on people at a work party at Christmas, Easter or otherwise. It’s totally inappropriate. Is the company American by any chance?

It sounds like Grace before a meal, rather than a specific prayer before a Christmas party. Still inappropriate but more comprehensible.

Rather odd but actually a logical thing to do. As a Christian, I do think the person offering the prayer should have introduced the prayer by saying something like 'As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Christ. I'm going to say grace to thank God for our gathering today.'

Even Christian groups do not agree on the necessity or propriety of public, group, or enforced prayer. Heck its right in the text! “Don’t pray on street corners” or loudly in public. Quakers wouldn’t do it. Lots of people wouldn’t do it.

If I were working in a company and there were an enforced social event I would not expect to be coopted into a religious event. I would leave. Which is the opposite of the team building goal of such parties.

I want to know who the woman who said the prayer is in the company!

But lots of people's Christmas's aren't anything to do with Jesus. So its not really about it is it

I think you're making too much fuss over it.

A short prayer by a Christian at a Christ's Mass gathering - how very dare they 🙄

It’s highly unfair to OP and a projection to suggest that was what was going on at the party in question. Christmas is a midwinter festival. There is no other name for it at the moment which is widespread enough to be commonly understood and accepted.

Fortunately, since the change of calendar in 1752, it neatly coincides with the winter solstice, which is a good reason for a party.

Nevertheless, this party was at the beginning of December. I’m surprised that the religious fanatics on here haven’t taken objection to the fact that it is, therefore, held in Advent, a period of penitence and waiting. It is therefore highly inappropriate, if you are a Christian, to attend a party at all. You should be fasting. Apparently Advent is of no importance to the Christians on this site.

Having said that, insisting on ramming the religious element down peoples throats is a good thing, as far as I’m concerned, because it turns people off religion.

I could not get excited about this. It’s good to remember every now and then what Christmas is actually about.

Speaking to someone isn’t extreme.

“mavis, you can’t take it upon yourself to lead a blessing at the work Xmas party you made people uncomfortable please don’t do it again”

To be clear I would not make a complaint. I would just find it weird and not take part in the prayer