An Atheist Outnumbered by Christians at Work (an ethical dilemma)

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2009

...we are all flowers in a grand, diverse garden.
only some continue to blossom and bloom.
me thinks you will continue to be a perennial delight.:redpinkhe
leslie

Leslie, you are so creative. I'd love to see a thread where anyone can copy and post all the little bits of wisdom from posters who can just put the words together in their responses to threads. Little short sayings... uplifting, thought provoking (Leslie), or funny (Canoe), or a good deserved kick in the butt, that is short and sweet...

leosasha · Apr 11, 2009

Have been away for some time. Upon logging in I find an excellent thread from an athiest. I have a particular fondness for the athiests. I can always manage to find some empathy for the guy who's in the minority. This countries record on dealing with those in the minority alone is enough for me to find some empathy somewhere. Have been considering the dilema of the nurse who is asked by the patient to pray for them and the ensuing discussion on proper response. You obviously are outnumbered in your co-workers belief and Zealousness. It is tempting to wonder what would happen if they knew you are an athiest. I can imagine a few scenarios. I think it would all hinge on how they were informed and your reactions to the ensuing attempts to convert you. In past blogs on this subject I believe that I have stated that I am not a Christian. But.....I had a Grandmother who was. One of the finest women one could ever want to meet. Excellent role model. I also was employed by Nuns for a number of years. Agaijn, some of the finest people you would ever want to meet. The majority were also excellent role models (always a couple of odd balls in the bunch). I gotta love the Christians. It's the only response Ihave come up with that has kept me from picking up a stick and wacking them while I chase them around the church. These last few years I have vacilated between concern and irritation over ideas and behaviors put forth by many Christians. Have been praying for someone to step up to the plate and excercise leadership within the ranks. Last year I read "The myth of the Christian Nation", and breathed a sigh of relief. Therre is hope now. I even said, "Thank you Jesus"! It should be noted that this Minister was abandoned by a number of his flock as a result of his teaching. If you tell your co-workers I would suggest that you be prepared to love them because it might be your only defense.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2009

First let me say I'm sorry you feel uncomfortable at work. I'm sure if your co-workers do find out they won't try to preach to you or try to convert you. Many of you may agree or disagree with what I'm about to write ( which is why after I write this I won't read the post again):

If you don't know about GOD it would be very wise to get to know him. He is the most caring, intelligent, all knowing, loving, marvelous, awesome, man I could ever know ! He is coming back someday to rapture us up to heaven, however non-believers will not make it into the kingdom of heaven. Its either heaven or hell. The most nicest, sweetest, caring, smartest people in the universe will not make it to heaven unless they believe and serve God. So how do you come to God and start a relationship ? Its easy.

1) Repent of your sins ( he will forgive you for anything you've done)

2) Accept God and Jesus as your Lord and saviour

3) Follow his commandments ( They are in the bible)

I can go on and on, so if anyone have any other questions for me please send me a message. As I won't be reading anymore responses from this posts.

Thank you everyone and God loves you !

Happy easter.

Jo Dirt · Apr 11, 2009

You know, I was standing out on the porch of the NH, watching for funnel clouds,and the woman who delivers diapers to the nursing home was standing out there and I heard her telling the MDS coordinator that she was appalled that the President of the United States said this country was not a Christian nation...apparently he said that on tv the night before. The MDS coordinator said, "Well, he'd better not come here!"

Even the Tena diaper delivery woman!!!

It's hard to talk about keeping religion to yourself when it saturates every aspect of your work life. I guess I'm as devout in my religion of atheism as they are in theirs of Christianity, I just don't think it would be good sense to talk about it. I might end up a crispy critter tied to the flag pole out front.

helpnhands · Apr 11, 2009

we have gotten a new administrator where i work (nursing home) who is apparently very religious. we had tornado warnings at work yesterday and when news came of a touchdown the next town over he (kind of jokingly) said if anyone's not right with god they've got about 15 minutes. on top of that, they've started praying at inservices and drop christian slurs all over the place. the don is big into the church, the adon is religious. most of the doctors are big into church. this is a small southern town and it's gospel music, neatly cropped hair, button down shirts and hush puppies all the way. they think i'm so meek and sweet as sugar, the patients love me and i love them (and i do!) i wonder what they would think if they knew. i make these natural hippie soaps and so many people scramble to buy them (even though these soaps are very expensive to make i sell them super cheap just because it makes me happy that i can make something other people like and i like to see them happy). they probably think i'm a christian like them.
i just wonder what they would think of me if they knew. maybe it shouldn't be a big deal to me, but it bothers me. i think they may feel a combination of disgust, pity, anger and frustration and i'm afraid they would even fire me. of course, they can't discriminate on religion, but you know how the cookie crumbles...i have a big heart and i really care about other people, but i'm as atheist as carl sagan. i fight hard to respect them with their religion, but i somehow doubt the favor would be returned.
ever dealt with or seen this? what do you think the outcome would be if a small, devoutly religious southern community who was all about appearances found out a valued employee held such an abhorrent (to them) view of the world?

with all due respect, jo, i have to wonder who's really "all about appearances" here. i mean, either you care what they think or you don't, kwim? and if you don't really care what they think, why would you even wonder if they knew (or cared) what religion you were. if practicing atheism is such a huge part of your life that it interferes with your ability to do your job in that town, you might move.

many of us moved to the us due to religious conviction, after all.

moonischasingme1 · Apr 11, 2009

I am an atheist too and while I never bring up religion, if someone out right asks me, I will say I am atheist. I think we need to stop being closet atheists!!!

I think the best thing to do is just smile or leave the room if someone says something very religious and try not to argue. I don't want too many people at work to know much about me, it is private.

"This is why rational people, anti-religionists, must end their timidity and come out of the closet and assert themselves. And those who consider themselves only moderately religious really need to look in the mirror and realize that the solace and comfort that religion brings you actually comes at a terrible price.(...)"

-Religulous!! Bill Maher.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2009

Jo Dirt, I believe what you are experiencing is a regional cultural phenomenon, and I agree that you should keep your atheism to yourself, unless you are ready to move on. They don't call it the Bible Belt for nothing!

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2009

First let me say I'm sorry you feel uncomfortable at work. I'm sure if your co-workers do find out they won't try to preach to you or try to convert you. Many of you may agree or disagree with what I'm about to write ( which is why after I write this I won't read the post again):
If you don't know about GOD it would be very wise to get to know him. He is the most caring, intelligent, all knowing, loving, marvelous, awesome, man I could ever know ! He is coming back someday to rapture us up to heaven, however non-believers will not make it into the kingdom of heaven. Its either heaven or hell. The most nicest, sweetest, caring, smartest people in the universe will not make it to heaven unless they believe and serve God. So how do you come to God and start a relationship ? Its easy.
1) Repent of your sins ( he will forgive you for anything you've done)
2) Accept God and Jesus as your Lord and saviour
3) Follow his commandments ( They are in the bible)
I can go on and on, so if anyone have any other questions for me please send me a message. As I won't be reading anymore responses from this posts.
Thank you everyone and God loves you !
Happy easter.

Wow. And people wonder where the original poster is coming from. I considered responding with the same-but-altered proselytism regarding the flying spaghetti monster, but it would have likely been removed as a personal attack.

I actually work with a religiously-affiliated hospital, but the best thing that has happened to me is that I was essentially "outed" by a co-worker. It's made for an occasional unpleasant conversation here and there, but for the most part it has lifted a load off my shoulders.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2009

You know, I was standing out on the porch of the NH, watching for funnel clouds,and the woman who delivers diapers to the nursing home was standing out there and I heard her telling the MDS coordinator that she was appalled that the President of the United States said this country was not a Christian nation...apparently he said that on tv the night before. The MDS coordinator said, "Well, he'd better not come here!"
Even the Tena diaper delivery woman!!!
It's hard to talk about keeping religion to yourself when it saturates every aspect of your work life. I guess I'm as devout in my religion of atheism as they are in theirs of Christianity, I just don't think it would be good sense to talk about it. I might end up a crispy critter tied to the flag pole out front.

What, are "diaper delivery women" somehow less likely to feel strongly about their beliefs and convictions than other people?

Seriously, I think you are making a mountain out of something that is not even a molehill. In your original post, you make all these assumptions about the reactions you would get were you to "come out" to your colleagues, but they're just that -- assumptions. I know that communities in the Bible belt can sometimes be intolerant of non-Christian beliefs, but have you ever considered that your coworkers may be so forthright about their religion because they believe they're preaching to the choir? I.e., since you haven't spoken up, they have no reason to think that there's a non-Christian in the room.

There are several steps you could take in this situation.

--You could remain silent and cherish these assumptions you've made and the paranoia that you seem to have built up as a result.

--You could confront your colleagues with your beliefs -- or lack of them -- but the outcome of that confrontation would depend largely on the attitude with which you approach them. Trust me, no matter how open-minded they may or may not be, they will not react well to this, "I'll bet you thought I was a Christian because I'm such a nice person -- well, I'm NOT, fooled you!" I'm a Christian myself, and it really rubs me the wrong way when people assume that I think I'm better than them because of it.

--You could move. Like I said, I know how Bible belt communities can be. This might be the only option acceptable to you (but I would take it only after testing the waters to see what the reaction to your atheism would be).

As for the proselytizing Christians who have responded -- what are you trying to accomplish, exactly? I'm guessing that this person didn't just wake up and decide to be an atheist one day; it's a personal belief that is generally arrived at after a considerable amount of thought and self-exploration. I find it highly unlikely that being harangued by strangers on an Internet forum is going to have any effect, other than to give credence to her concerns about her coworkers.

Atheos · Apr 11, 2009

OP you are not alone.

There are many of us Atheists out there living in hostile territory. Good luck.

leslie :-D · Apr 11, 2009

OP you are not alone.
There are many of us Atheists out there living in hostile territory. Good luck.

i didn't sense anything "hostile" about her environment. :confused:

leslie

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2009

Also, what exactly is a "Christian slur"? Sounds to me something that would be used against a Christian...and I can't, offhand, think of any derogatory terms used specifically by Christians, unless it's something like "infidel," "heathen," etc., which I have a hard time believing you heard from your DON.