God-bothering at work

[WhereToSheNow]

New MD hired his buddy/neighbour 6 months ago for a few hours a week to act as a Management Consultant.

The Management Consultant, who we call "Pokey" (because he keeps jabbing us in the arm) has some sort of official capacity within the Baptist Church, and his website is all about the application of his faith within business.

I didn't have a problem with that, as he hadn't mentioned religion.... until last week.

He attended a "World Leadership Course" and emailed us his notes, with several quotes about God and Jesus, telling us to read them and "feel free to ask any questions". In a meeting the following day, he asked us what we thought of his email.

I told him that I don't want to be included in emails that reference any religion/god, at which point he became very defensive.

Later that day I received another email where he said that he was sorry if the contents of his previous email had offended me, but that he hoped I would gain some insight that would assist me in my professional or personal life.

AIBU to think that my work should a) be a secular space and b) my personal life is none of his business!

Yanbu.

Tell him to refrain from poking you and your work area is for work, not a sounding board for his personal beliefs.

Am I the only one bothered about a 'World Leadership Course'?
Is he a Bond villain with a fluffy white cat on his lap?

OP, a bunch of liberal feminist Mumsnetting religion-despisers are never, ever, ever, ever, ever (ad infinitum) going to tell you that you are being unreasonable on this subject. That doesn't mean that you are not.

Hairbrushed, I know this will make you shudder but I am being genuine when I say I feel really sorry for the upbringing you have had with that cult you refer to (was it Christadelphians?) I see you all over mn at all given opportunities grinding that axe of yours, which is perfectly understandable. You strike me as damaged by your early cult years, though, and it worries me. Jesus' teachings are very far removed from your telling of what Christianity is and I wonder whether you could ever put away that cult-inspired dogma for good.

I didn't know any other way to word that so apologies if you are truly patronised.

" a bunch of liberal feminist Mumsnetting religion-despisers"

Always makes me laugh when people use "liberal" as an insult!

and "feminist"!

OP, a bunch of liberal feminist Mumsnetting religion-despisers are never, ever, ever, ever, ever (ad infinitum) going to tell you that you are being unreasonable on this subject

Good grief! LoveandHate

Oh, I'm used to "feminist" being used as an insult!

*Hairbrushed, I know this will make you shudder but I am being genuine when I say I feel really sorry for the upbringing you have had with that cult you refer to (was it Christadelphians?) I see you all over mn at all given opportunities grinding that axe of yours, which is perfectly understandable. You strike me as damaged by your early cult years, though, and it worries me. Jesus' teachings are very far removed from your telling of what Christianity is and I wonder whether you could ever put away that cult-inspired dogma for good.

I didn't know any other way to word that so apologies if you are truly patronised.*

Had this come from anyone but you LoveandHate I may have taken it more seriously and have a good ponder on it. However you are a classic example of EXACTLY the thought process of believers I have encountered throughout my life. I find it quite comical that you assume christadelphians there are hundreds of community's in the UK who would be considered cults because the community I was raised in and the multiple others I went through until my thirties and escaping the belief system indoctrinated into me would all have also considered the christadelphians a cult. I'm fairly certain the christadelphians would consider the community I grew up in a cult. A cult being a group who considers only they have the 'Truth' and everyone else is wrong.

Large amounts of Jesus ascribed teachings are ignored by most brands of christianity.

I feel a lot of sympathy to those trapped in a faith that divides so much. It's an "Us and Them" mentality. It's fear and control dressed up as love and freedom. There's a fine balance which way it goes, for those able to take a more symbolic view such as CofE types I see how it can be very supportive and comforting, even those who pentecostal/evangelicals who adhere to gospel of inclusion I can see how their faith would be very beneficial however I see huge amounts of pain having been caused to many families by this religion otherwise. And that's before we talk about wars fought in its name!

It's funny you see me grinding an axe because I see you with yours at most posts I show up on. Thanks for your concern.

Is he a Bond villain with a fluffy white cat on his lap?

You are probably right there, in that they are aiming for world domination. By poking

She's a bloody grown woman being poked and jabbed whenever her boss wishes to communicate or make a point. I can't think of an easier 'problem' to manage, to be honest Nope. She's just being feeble.

Seriously, LoveandHate? You can't think of any easier problem to manage whatsoever? In your book dealing with, say, the fact that the photocopier has run out of toner or that you need to rearrange an appointment or that someone has called in sick is harder to manage than telling your boss's friend to back off when said friend may run to the boss and demand that you be disciplined or sacked? You must have an awful lot of stress in your life if you find those issues so difficult.

Can somebody tell me, is Loveandhate for real? They can't be can they?

LoveAndHate

it is Christ Himself who commands you to spread the 'Good News'. If you are embarrassed of the Gospel or think this is too much of a stretch - you know...to talk about your saviour to friends - then I suggest you quit pretending to be a Christian.

Please do not claim that I am pretending to be a Christian - you know nothing about me.

As with everything else in life there are parts of the bible I find easier to deal with than others. Do you adhere to/live by every single thing that it says in the bible?

YANBU. Religion has nothing to do in a secular business, and a pushy religious colleague is a plague. Tell him to kindly fuck off, and thanks but no thanks on Bible wisdom, normal common sense is well enough for you.
And tell him to stop poking you or you will refer him to HR.

it is Christ Himself who commands you to spread the 'Good News'

And Christ himself showed how. He didn't push it on people. He was gentle and more often than not people went to him. Where he invited himself people showed curiosity first.
A good example, IMO.

Say STOP JABBING ME every time he does it and ask the other victims to do the same. And say CUT IT OUT when he turns on the Godsquad talk. Take no shit on either matter.

There a couple of posters around at the moment who I suspect are actually atheist double agents..............

I would text/e-mail back saying thank you for sending you the information but you're an adult now and haven't believed in fairy stories for a long time.

Oh and every time he pokes you, I suggest you poke him back.

"Yes, I guess I am victim-blaming She's a bloody grown woman being poked and jabbed whenever her boss wishes to communicate or make a point. I can't think of an easier 'problem' to manage, to be honest Nope. She's just being feeble."

You know, what I've always loved about Christians is their tolerance and empathy for other people's problems.

okay i'm jumping in....read several posts on each page but not all.
working with dr.'s especially in small offices can be challenging in ways very different than a regular business setting. partially because medical school does not teach business lessons and they are oblivious to this need (unlike dentists)
my experience has been with dr.'s from s.a. who's religious views were...more right and wrong than my views. no point in arguing with a dr. they are always right and use to that in your face type of arguing their point.
you can stick to your guns maybe add in some humor; no religious education discussing with me please.
or you can review your own spirituality and explore if you can incorporate some of the teachings in your everyday work life.

in my case the physician asked me if I was a vampire and drank blood because i am catholic he interpreted that i therefore believe in the wine to blood component of the sacrament and took part in the eucharist during mass.....mouth gapped open, no sensible words came out....

good luck OP, if you generally enjoy your job and colleagues i'd find a way to work around him....pokey or not

Interesting conversation with the Secular Society - employees do NOT have the right to a secular workplace, just the right not to be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs (or lack thereof).

Bertrand - lol, I was pondering the atheist double agent theory too.

in my case the physician asked me if I was a vampire and drank blood because i am catholic he interpreted that i therefore believe in the wine to blood component of the sacrament and took part in the eucharist during mass.....mouth gapped open, no sensible words came out....

Isn't that a rather key part of Catholic doctrine? As in, that you're supposed to believe it actually is his blood?

WhereToSheNow
Interesting conversation with the Secular Society - employees do NOT have the right to a secular workplace, just the right not to be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs (or lack thereof).

So, would this mean that you can't ask this chap to stop sending religious info to you?

I would have thought you can ask for it on the basis that, for you, it is harassment; also that it has nothing whatsoever to do with your job and is taking up time your employer is paying for. If everyone was permitted to go around the workplace evangelising for their respective religions, you have to wonder when they would ever get any work done.

Please do not claim that I am pretending to be a Christian - you know nothing about me.

Your obvious displeasure at the mere thought of speaking to people outside of your church about the Christ you purport to worship says a lot about you. Why are you even going to church if you find evangelism a cringeworthy notion?

I think, with the correct people skills, the OP would easily be able to put an end to her boss's 'God-bothering'. She doesn't sound like a shrinking violet to me....didn't a colleague even comment that she had been 'a bit harsh'? She doesn't sound like a victim to me, but she is proud to paint herself as one for her salivating MN atheist audience.

I'm very glad you've had some closure from the Secular Society, OP. Perhaps now you can concentrate on disparaging some other poor bastard whose position you're jealous of.

Oh, come on, LoveandHate, fess up! You're Richard Dawkins recruiting for an Atheist Army, aren't you? Good try, but a tad overplayed!