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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

God-bothering at work

456 replies

WhereToSheNow · 25/10/2015 15:40

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!

OP posts:
SmillasSenseOfSnow · 26/10/2015 19:41

Bertrand Grin

LoveAndHate · 26/10/2015 20:05

Hello, Bert, what a surprise to see you on a religion-themed thread!

Lweji · 26/10/2015 20:15

Well, OP, if that's the case, you could set up an email rule to delete all emails (from that colleague) with the word god on them.

More seriously, you can then delete and ignore those emails and if you get in trouble for doing so, then you have a case for discrimination.

AnotherCider · 26/10/2015 20:19

LoveAndHate - I'll bite... Pentecostal? AOG?

Original poster
WhereToSheNow · 26/10/2015 20:19

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

No, it doesn't mean that - I can ask him to stop, and I have. Secular Society suggested that next time it happens, I respond and cc in the MD pointing out that his method of communicating with me is ineffective and unprofessional.

OP posts:
Lweji · 26/10/2015 20:20

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.

Well, or you could start sending people info about Jedis or the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and setting up meetings to see if their message could help their work and their personal lives.

When he pokes you, lift your hand and say: this is not the person you want to poke. And remember every time you leave to wish everyone that the force is with them.
Not forgetting to claim the 4th of May as a religious holiday.

BertrandRussell · 26/10/2015 20:22

"Hello, Bert, what a surprise to see you on a religion-themed thread!"

Yep. It's an interest of mine. What's your motivation?

Original poster
WhereToSheNow · 26/10/2015 20:22

Lweji Grin

OP posts:
LoveAndHate · 26/10/2015 20:35

I just love unicorns.

GardeniaBallpoint · 26/10/2015 20:59

LoveAndHate, let me fetch my shades, your love for your fellow MNers just shines far too brightly Grin

LoveAndHate · 26/10/2015 21:54

Go to the 'Congratulations to Jack Monroe!' threads and you'll see why I think Mumsnet is going down the toilet.

I don't hate anyone but I find it exceptionally difficult to love arse-lickers.

GardeniaBallpoint · 26/10/2015 22:23

And liberals, feminists and atheists Haloween Sad Where is the love??

StampyMum · 26/10/2015 22:28

Personally, I think YABU to use the term "God-bothering" because it's a pretty negative and unpleasant way to describe people with a faith IMO. But as a person with a faith, I can't quite believe that anyone thinks it's ok to evangelise (or whatever it's called) at work. And the poking thing, yuk. I'd be complaining about him first thing tomorrow.

BelindaBagwash · 26/10/2015 23:16

LoveAndHate I will obviously never measure up to your saintly standards. I am not comfortable with evangelising. Nor are most people I know. When have I ever heard anyone say "Oh good - here come those people knocking at my door on a Saturday morning - isn't it lovely of them to evangelise to others".

Please take care - you are in serious danger of being strangled - either by your judgeypants hoiking themselves up around your neck or your halo slipping down around it.

SuburbanRhonda · 26/10/2015 23:22

loveandhate, if you think MN is going down the toilet, and bearing in mind you are the only poster on this thread to have had a posted deleted (you're welcome), maybe it's you who is out of step.

Just a thought.

HopefulAnxiety · 26/10/2015 23:29

Love I haven't gone to the Jack Monroe thread but why is that an example of MN going down the toilet? I'm a Christian who works extensively with young LGBT Christians. People like Jack Monroe give them hope - it's no exaggeration that I praise God for Jack and their bravery. Also, their sunshine bread because it's delish.

I'd rather celebrate Jack than some busybody workplace preacher.

MrsWembley · 26/10/2015 23:34
HopefulAnxiety · 26/10/2015 23:36

Also lol at 'feminist' being seen as an insult. I'm a Christian (leftist-anarchist, trade unionist, intersectional) feminist as is my conservative, charismatic (think Salt & Light/stricter end of Hillsong etc) lesbian Christian feminist friend. And my AOG Christian feminist friend who prays for and supports LGBT Christian youth. Fuck off to the far side of fuck if you think any of that invalidates rather than supports our Christianity.

noeffingidea · 27/10/2015 06:48

Ironically, I can imagine Loveandhate turning people against Christianity rather than the other way.

Original poster
WhereToSheNow · 27/10/2015 06:58

I don't know why LoveandHate is being so rude to me - nowhere have I said that I am anti-religion, in fact she doesn't even know if I have a faith or not

OP posts:
Sigma33 · 27/10/2015 07:20

I've seen some sessions of the Global Leadership course (it's annual), and to be fair, it does focus on leadership skills (but yes, lots of 'God is in charge as well'). I've found some of the leadership discussions interesting and useful, and just ignored the God stuff. It can be used in a secular way if you substitute 'values' for 'faith'.

So I can understand that it may not be inappropriate in that context. And his apology could be genuine.

If it's a one-off (for which he has apologised) I don't think there's much case for crying 'harassment' - that seems a bit hysterical Hmm . If he does it again, having been told you don't want anything referencing god, then that's different.

LoveAndHate · 27/10/2015 07:37

The only thing a deleted post demonstrates is that there are some unfortunates who still believe in censorship. Which I find very ' out of step' on a discussion forum populated by liberals and feminists. No-platforming, anyone?

Belinda, no-one has mentioned knocking on doors except you. Perhaps you are JW? Never mind. May I ask a genuine question? How do you suppose God (whom you worship) wants us to spread His message of love to those who have never heard/who don't believe?

OP, I'm sorry you feel persecuted by me but I really do think persecution is something you feel rather easily if your OP is anything to go by.

Lweji · 27/10/2015 07:41

How do you suppose God (whom you worship) wants us to spread His message of love to those who have never heard/who don't believe?
To start with by example...
He doesn't want us to only spread a message of love. He wants us to love each other as we love ourselves. (Or maybe that's your problem there?)

Lweji · 27/10/2015 07:42

And I'm pretty sure Christ was feminist (considering the times)

BertrandRussell · 27/10/2015 07:45

LoveandHate- if you are genuine, have you noticed that there doesn't seem to be a single positive response to your posts from "anyone"- Christian or non Christian? Have you thought about why that might be?