To have objected to ‘prayers’ at work

[Iamthewintersale]

Will try to keep this brief… Work in a team of 12, 6 in U.K. and 6 in USA ( mid-west) and once a week we have a team meeting that we take turns in running.

Tomorrow is the turn of A. A is a Republican, church goer, voted Trump because she wanted, quote ‘More money in my pocket book and illegals dealt with’.
So far so MAGA. This came up pre-election as she’s the only Trump fan on the team and was open about it.

On the agenda for the meeting is ‘Prayer’ as point one. I pinged manager a note saying what?? A thinks it would be nice to start off with a prayer. As a team. I have asked for it to be OFF the agenda. US manager thinks it’s ‘harmless’ but has said will clarify.

AIBU to think it’s totally inappropriate??? I’m an atheist for a start, most of my U.K. team are the same or at least agnostic.

Seems weird that she’s never tried this before, but suddenly Trump ‘god saved me to MAGA’ is inaugurated and a team prayer is in the agenda.
We are a large global company, BTW, not some local mom & pop outfit that sells bibles…

YANBU - work is secular. She keeps her views and prayers to herself own time.

YABU - lighten up, what harm can it do.

I think the passage does exist though :)

It really isn’t.

Absolutely not unreasonable

No,it's not.

We used to have team meetings where the manager played a piece of music as people arrived, or read a poem as as the first agenda item.

Wasn't my favourite way to liven up a meeting (imo a biscuit is plenty!). But fairly inoffensive. Could you suggest this as an alternative?

You could always say that you'd found a sung prayer and YouTube the Sex Pistols and Ronnie Biggs doing The Punk Prayer.

As a Christian I say YANBU, completely inappropriate.

May I ask if it's compulsory to be there during the opening prayers in Parliament & if so what happens if non-believers refuse? Also do opening prayers happen every day or only on certain occasions? I never knew this happened so I find it interesting.

@Hotflushesandchilblains are you always so rude?

Who was rude?

The phrase is usually extrapolated to thinking about the limits of religious influence, with the view that religion should not impinge on daily life or how you are treated. Since this is a workplace, this is an impingement. The right not to have other beliefs imposed on us is vital, but being eroded.

There was no impingement, and no beliefs were imposed on anyone. A woman asked to say a prayer during a meeting, which is not imposing anything on anyone, not any moreso than a charity leaflet is imposing on your right to not donate anything to charity.

Second, separation of church and state is not about religion not impinging on daily life. It's about ensuring that one religion is not treated favourably by the state above other religions, and that people of all faiths and none are viewed equally by the government and law. It has absolutely nothing to do with people saying prayers in the workplace at a private company.

Religion has no place in work, politics or education.

Just like having a penis, its fine to have one - its not fine to get it out in public and wave it around.

@Azandme Freedom of religion DOES include freedom from religion.

To a point. It means you are free not to go to church, but it doesn't mean you're allowed to get your panties into a twist over (for example) a muslim colleague praying in your office.

Pretty inappropriate, and I'm a Christian myself.

I work as a midwife in a UK hospital - the only time we do anything like this at work is in baby loss awareness week. The hospital chaplain comes round and does a small service at the delivery suite desk with that staff there, for the SB babies. It's completely optional/voluntary, and quite a few staff find it helpful.

But this seems to be as part of a work meeting and not so optional, not right.

I very much hope that's the reasoning the OP gives if it comes up for discussion in the meeting

@MissionBiscuits I see the point you're trying to make, but for starters Democrats aren't known for trying to force their religious beliefs on others,

Well I'm sure Mike Pence would say a prayer in this context, but he's anti-Trump and voted for Harris. That's just one example out of the 75 million people who voted Democrat at the last US election. For you to say that every single Democrat voter is the type of person who doesn't preach or pray in public is you just making things up.

In a separate prayer room? Or actually in the office?

@RedHelenB In a separate prayer room? Or actually in the office?

I've seen Muslim coworkers pray in the office a few times.

No one gives a shit, because I'm a normal person who has actual problems to worry about. I would understand that if people have lots of free time, then they might pretend to be annoyed about it.

It’s been raised several times through this thread.

It’s voluntary, happens at the start of every sitting of both House, but if you don’t sit through prayers you stand less chance of a good seat, or indeed any seat, so there is a disadvantage to not attending. You can attend and not join in, by staying silent or facing the walls.

Meant to add:

In the house of commons is it the Speaker who leads the opening prayer & what happens if the speaker is a non believer? I have a feeling that wouldn't be the case though if past Speakers are anything to go by. All very interesting.

@whenwillglorioussummercome
I missed the posts about this,thanks for making it clearer

Praying in a work meeting is creating a situation that could cause distress or discrimination. An employer should be aware of this and the potential consequences - most would not allow it to happen as a result.

@Whenwillglorioussummercome Praying in a work meeting is creating a situation that could cause distress or discrimination.

I wish my life so easy and care-free that the thing that causes me most distress is someone else praying.

Tell her Jesus was a socialist (which he was) and that right wing politics aren’t compatible with Christianity.

Not seriously enough to follow it though.

By the way, I’m a Christian and would never dream of suggesting prayers at work, it’s completely inappropriate. Oh and I’m a socialist too. Like Jesus!

How excruciatingly embarrassing!

This.