That prayer to Jesus is inappropriate at a company party?

[Kate8889]

I went with my husband to a company Christmas party and before we started to eat a woman came to the microphone and said a short prayer in the name of Jesus as thanks/blessings for the food. Everyone was expected to bow their head.

This is the first time I've been witness to something like this, it is a secular company with many Jewish, Muslim and agnostic people. We have been going to this Christmas party for 7 years and it's never been like this.

I couldn’t give two titties. For many it is about the birth of JC so let them pray and celebrate. Tyrants on here don’t want that though

You can pray and celebrate all you want, indeed, I'd fight to defend your right to do just that, except, you are not subjecting me to it when I have a right to a religion-free workplace. You, and anyone else who wishes to join you, can go into a separate space and pray until your heart is content, but attempt to do so in front of me and no, I won't just meekly accept it and bow my head, I will vocally object and I couldn't give "two titties" if that upsets you.

I had my fill of Christians taking it for granted I was one myself when I was a child and foisting their religion upon me without ever asking for my consent. No way I'd stand for it as an adult.

And before anyone chimes in with the utterly predictable "I bet you wouldn't do the same with a Muslim prayer", yes, I absolutely would. Religion is religion, it doesn't matter which variety, I'm not bending over for any of them.

I would just eye roll, go to the bar and avoid the person in question.

Are we talking here about Sue Wattiph from Planning?

CNN reported that a Muslim cleric also delivered a prayer at the ceremony (that detail is missing from your link) - perhaps the Christian representative thought she would get in there first!

It all ended in tears anyway - the Muslim representative had to resign within a year;
Movita Johnson-Harrell, the former Democratic state representative from West Philly, will serve three months in prison followed by 8 1/2 months of house arrest for misusing more than $500,000 in funds from her nonprofit for personal use...
... on personal expense, including fur coats, a trip to Mexico, her Porsche and past-due mortgage payments.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/west-philly-motiva-johnson-harrell-pleads-guilty-theft-charges/

What’s my agenda then? What’s the agenda of the posters on here slagging off Christians and Christmas?

I’m not sure if you’re being serious, but if you are, don’t be daft, of course you can have a party without a hint of religion in it! I’ve never been to one with it and I’m mid fifties!

OP it’s quite odd to have that and it’s not for everyone and really it’s probably the last thing people at a Christmas party want to do…pray! Weird!

None of that detracts from the Christian fundie weaponizing prayer.

A work Christmas party is not celebrating the birth of Jesus. It’s celebrating the end of the year and the fact that there’ll be a few days off with lights, presents, food and fun. For 90% of people that event will also not be to celebrate the birth of Jesus it will be because it a fun thing to do that everyone does.
Religion has zilch to do with a modern Xmas celebration and therefore prayer is as inappropriate as someone doing a group prayer at a work summer party or meeting.
If you want to bring religion into your own Xmas no one is stopping you but don’t try to force a group into inappropriate displays of faith that isn’t shared by the vast majority of the population or the attendees.
And that goes for any religion.
I was recently at a work course in another country that is more religious than the UK. The day was opened and closed by a prayer. I thought it hugely inappropriate given the professional context and didn’t bow my head or say amen and just carried on messaging on my phone and ignored it. As did most people not from that country.

sure thing, well the person op is talking about did it this way, so that’s fine right ?