... to be annoyed at the Muslim who prays next to me in work?

[Beethoven]

I share a small office with two other people. A new guy has started who's a muslim, and will roll out his mat and start praying behind me. I know it doesn't hurt me, but I feel a little uncomfortable for the few minutes that he does it.

Am I being an unreasonable bigot?

at Posie.

That is such garbage jason thunderpants. I've had christmas cards from Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, etc, and I guess most of us have.

*Dawkinistas

Actually Jason, not only do I and most Muslims I know, wish people happy Xmas etc, we also wish happy Diwali and Guru's b-day etc too. How can you make such sweeping statements about 1 billion people?!

Well I imagine Riven that your ds1 did his RS GCSE rather more recently to me it was still an O level when I was at school.

I actually don't happen to think the OP was bigoted at all. I think this thread has been a little hijacked by some people wishing to impose views on others though, which is rather curious in itself....

I'm sorry if the OP feels upset by the turn the thread has taken. I didn't think she was being bigoted either, but it is an interesting discussion that came about as a result of her question.

Hope I didn't cause offence, OP.

well I do apologise to the Muslims on here who do say Merry Christmas etc
you are clearly educated Muslims and not like the ill educated ones who live in my town

If we get back to the op it's just asking if this behaviour is appropriate for a workplace.

Imo. It's not. It would make me feel very uncomfortable. In my last place of work anyone kneeling on the floor to pray would have lost money or been trampled by the rush to take his place on the dealing floor. We didn't have prayer rooms, work was for working, what you do in your private life is up to you.

I get xmas card from my muslim friens everyear Jason. Maybe your friends don't like you very much?

Goth - what exactly is 'hateful and ignorant' about Beethoven's thread?

Why should she consult with the muslim calendar to ask a question on MN?

You chose to read it, you could have exercised your right to ignore it?

I don't hate Muslims - but I think any religious worship should be done in private. (Riven, doing it unnoticed is in private.)

Chipping In - and now I'm asserting my right to give my opinion on the Op and that opinion still stands.

It seems to me that the fact that him praying means that you feel you have to alter your behaviour for those few minutes is in some ways a positive thing.

I am in no way religious but I always like it when Muslim colleagues go off for Friday prayers; it seems a peaceful thing to do, which kind rubs off on me IYSWIM.

Likewise last year I took my son to his tutor and when we arrived it was about 4pm and his tutor was praying in the next room, but with the door open. We just waited quietly and it was fine and, again, it felt like encountering a peaceful, serene event.

So even if the OP finds it a bit odd at the moment, in time you might learn to appreciate it as a peaceful few moments in the middle of the working day?

We had breaks, if and when it was quiet.....which wasn't very often. There was a coffee lounge, and a smokers lounge neither would have been appropriate places. Failing that, numerous bars in the surrounding area, again not appropriate.

Wrt to single God, would that be the benevolent one or the one who sanctions the flogging, stoning, and beating.

Hee hee Riven. Your nativity story did make me laugh.

Sorry Foxy if I caused a problem with my question. Actually, the reason I asked is that many of my Muslim, Hindu and Jewish colleagues (don't work with any Sikhs for some reason, before anyone asks about the fifth major religion...) do actually say happy christmas and I was wondering if it would be something polite to say around the workplace. I wouldn't want to say it if it was offensive (can't really think of an analogy, but you know what I mean. In some religions it is offensive for a non-believer to say certain phrases).

Jason I have been wished a Merry Christmas by many Muslims and those of other faiths. As far as I know they are not on here. I have worked Eid to let Muslim colleagues have it off and they have worked Christmas for me instead.

Jason, I'm sure you classify yourself as an ill-educated non-Muslim, then, given that you express doubts about wishing any one a good Ramadan or happy Eid.

Ack, falling into the trap of talking to a troll.

Think it's a bit harsh to say that the OP is being bigoted. I would be uncomfortable too if a colleague started praying at their desk, whether they were getting out the rosary beads, prayer mat or incense sticks. It is just not appropriate in a small office. Prayer has no place in a work environment, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Scientologist, Flying Spaghetti Monster etc.

As someone from a religious background (atheist now), I also question how anyone can get any serious praying done in a workplace anyway with phones going off and people chatting all around. Surely the whole point of praying is that it's private and meditative, focused inwards, not outwards??

prayers take no longer than the average fag break, and I'd far rather someone was praying than smoking, and if you tried to stop someones fag breaks you would have a riot. People are entitled to a certain number of breaks a day, and they may well be taking the time as an unpaid break, you cant be certain.

Posie - people inflict their atheism on me each and every time they say "for gods sake" or "jesus christ" as an exclamation. I personally find that far more offensive than any of the words considered to be swear words in the general population.

Basically, OP isnt being unreasonable in feeling uncomfortable with this new and unusual behaviour in the office, but she would be incredibly unreasonable to comment on it and make the person feel unreasonable.

I think it's unfair to say that religion has no place at work. By doing so, you are effectively picking sides, and that is the side of those without religious belief. There is no neutral position on such a debate.

As I have said, I don't necessarily think the OP was bigoted either. I would have felt awkward, because I wouldn't know if I was meant to keep quiet/mute my phone, etc (coming from a christian background where that would be expected). But I'd hope communication with the colleague could get you past that initial awkwardness.