So I thought that my workplace was fairly immune to this kind of behavior. There's a wide variety of religions and cultures in our staff and in our patients. I had just started feeling comfortable with my coworkers.
Yesterday my coworker tried converting me to Christianity while on lunch break. It was completely unexpected and horribly awkward, all mixed in with terribly insulting. She started innocently enough by asking me what religion I was. From there it went into why I'm not Christian, why don't I believe in Satan, how the Bible is real, how Jesus will save non believers only if they ask. Then she asked me to promise her that I'd re-read the Bible and ask her about any parts I don't understand.
I'm angry. Embarrassed. I don't want to "rock the boat" at my unit. She's been there longer than I have. At the same time, I'm worried she's doing the same to other employees or even patients.
I'm just curious - what would you do if you were in my situation? I'm still trying to weigh my options before I act.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
Second, I see no benefit in promoting snark in the workplace. It's a good response on AN or in the street or coffee shop, but upsetting a coworker for one's own amusement is not only bad manners but bad teamwork.
So is trying to convert someone on their lunch hour.
Yeah, typo, i didn't check my copy to verify the spelling.
Someone wants to probe my religious preference, they're opening the door, not me.
No, someone probing your religious preference is only knocking. It is up to you whether or not to open the door. You have the choice on whether or not to discuss it or not.
I'm a Christian myself, and I do not hide it, but I also do not push my beliefs on anyone. That is NOT professional. As I become friends with my coworkers, I do find out what they believe, and will share some of what I believe, but ONLY as the friendship grows- I talk about EVERY subject with my friends hahaha IMO talking to someone like that lady did to you would be akin to one of my coworkers trying to make me agree to trying out homosexuality!!! Its not something I agree with- it would be an interesting discussion with a friend, but I'd be very offended if it were an acquaintance.
ETA- I have many friends, and can tease and joke and discuss just about anything with them, including religion and politics- BUT this is only with my friends, some of whom are coworkers, and NOT with people whom I only have a professional relationship. I would not report her for doing that unless you told her to stop and she doesn't- I would just tell her next time that religion is a personal choice and you will not discuss it at work.
So is trying to convert someone on their lunch hour.
I happen to agree ... but amusing yourself at someone elses' expense is not productive of anything but hard feelings. I think that kind of self-indulgence is just as inappropriate in a workplace as proselytizing. "She did it first" doesn't make it ok. Get snarky over bad nursing practice, management happy talk or lousy working conditions, if you want to have fun. Leave religion alone and chances are it will eventually leave you alone.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Guess I don't get why we have to be rude (according to some here). Really anything at anytime can offend anyone. What we DO control is our reaction to it. No need to get snarky with ANYONE.
Just because she bases all of her life choices on a piece of fiction doesn't mean you have to... hate people jamming their religious beliefs down others' throats
Let's see if you still believe it's 'a piece of fiction' on the day of your death and you are standing face to face with God, hoping to enter into Heaven. Sadly, that will be too late.
That being said...there are ways to introduce salvation and that person's way is not the way to do it. One has to be open to hear and seeking truth. It falls on deaf ears if one feels 'obligated' to listen.
But if religion talk is forbidden in the workplace, so should the subject of other current social topics that are consistently shoved down the throats of Christians.
Specializes in RETIREDMed nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
OTOH, you could just pat her on the shoulder as you leave the room and say, "You're preachin' to the choir, honey." Let her make of that what she will.
When I was doing Home Health I was doing dsg changes on a woman's legs and her "Church Family" ....about 7 people, arrived en masse to bring her a Thanksgiving turkey and all the things she'd need to make dinner for her real family. One of the boisterous bunch (who shouldn't have been invited into the room by the patient while the procedure was going on, but that's a different thread) said to me, quite loudly, "Are you a Christian?" and without blinking an eye or stopping what I was doing, I, having been in the South long enough to savvy the language of the fervent Southern Baptist's, said, "Yes, ma'am! I've been washed in the blood of the lamb. Amen!" She replied, "Well, it's a good thing, because if you weren't, I was going to convert you right here and right now!" Everyone laughed but me. . . .
and so they didn't hear me mutter, "The H311 you say!"
Let's see if you still believe it's 'a piece of fiction' on the day of your death and you are standing face to face with God, hoping to enter into Heaven. Sadly, that will be too late.
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Ironically, you don't seem overly sad by the idea.
It is sad Brandon, however, not MY choice....but the one who rejected Christ and those who tried to share Him. I mean..since we can't bring it up in 'polite society', what can we Christians do but to step aside and let you make your own decision?
Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
So is trying to convert someone on their lunch hour.