Ever work with people who talk about church all the time?

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Does it get on your nerves? If so, how do you deal with it?? I'm no devil worshipper, and I see my self as being pretty tolerant of others, but I work with some people who seem kind of smug about their church attendance and often find a way to work that into many a conversation. Completely unrelated conversations.

Specializes in hospice.
The way that NICU nurse behaved is in my opinion disrespectful and disturbing :( I can understand why it bothers you.

I completely agree. People like that don't really trust God. She thinks she has to force the issue and violate the parents' rights. I would trust that baby to His mercy and love while respecting the parents.

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Specializes in CVICU CCRN.
I don't mind when people talk about church - usually it's because it's a HUGE part of their life and they don't even think twice about it. I think they also assume I love church just as much.

However, I'm a quiet agnostic, and that conversations are always impoverished and my mind is usually elsewhere, because I just cannot relate or agree to anything I don't agree with. Lots of "mhmm" and "oh that's cool" and "I can only imagine"s. And good lord I hate small talk.

Word! I hate small talk too. I love comfortable silence lol. I'm good with families and patients because I feel it's goal directed conversation, but those fake elevator conversations encourage me to improve my cardio by taking the stairs! ?

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
All I can say is, God bless magazines and smartphones. It's how I disengage myself from any conversation in the breakroom I choose

not to be a part of.

Super-religious people are annoying, right up there with brand new parents and people with kids going to college, IMHO. Talk to 'em if you want to, read if you don't.

My smartphone is my escape as well. I live in a fairly conservative and religious area. My personal rule is not to discuss politics or religion at work; however, that rule is not shared by everyone on the unit. That phone is an excuse to not participate in those conversations that I would prefer not to be involved in while still allowing participation in subjects that I will discuss at work.

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Yes, I felt this person was behaving in a smug way about church. And it's true that I feel fine about not belonging to one. She said that she knew someone we work with but not too well, because 'she doesn't go to church all the time". And my church this, my church that. I just thought she seemed a bit high on her horse about church. I wanted to ask if she felt like church was really working. And I couldn't get away like I normally would because I was trying to orient her to our facility.

"Why that is LOVELY, and bless your heart for sharing that with me. Thank goodness my auntie goes to daily mass and says a little prayer for me, as this orienting is tough!! " Then go about your day.

In all seriousness, sometimes people are so into their lives outside of work being all about their "position" in a church, every social activity revolves around church, that there is little else. And appparently, they are attempting to make conversation, which is a little better than attempting to convert you or ignoring you.

Let it roll of your back, and if it gets too much a "say a prayer for us heathens" is always an option....

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.
I don't think it is a particular religion....I have had all different religions at work and there have been some that try to get others to be as enthusiastic as they are about their religion. It is person driven not any particular religion.
I agree Esme. Which is why I said "don't get me wrong, I'd question anyone of any religion." In this case she happened to be Jehovah's witness. And it was more like she felt her religion was better. I would find that unsettling from any person. We can feel

however enthusiastic we need to, but not at the expense of making others feel less, IMO.

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Specializes in PICU.

To the OP:

I think that your new co-worker is nervous and trying to make small talk. It It is likely her outlet in life and might not have a common ground with you and is relying on her own experiences. have you tried talking with her about other topics and asking about other things she does outside of work, or experiences at work she might have. What happens when you ask her about other things or topics?

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It wouldn't anger me or have an effect on the structural integrity of my underwear.

Perhaps I'm punch drunk from working overnight but this made me crack up!

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Specializes in hospice.
"Why that is LOVELY, and bless your heart for sharing that with me. Thank goodness my auntie goes to daily mass and says a little prayer for me, as this orienting is tough!!"

And anyone who knows anything about the South knows what "bless your heart" really means. ;)

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Specializes in Internal and Family Medicine.

Ummm...welcome to the world? Letting things "get on your nerves" isn't about them, it's about you. People do and say all kinds of things. Letting other people's quirks or traits bother you is a sure sign of immaturity. The good news is that you will either grow up, or find a job where you don't have to deal so much with people. My hair stylist figured this one out. I have watched her for years, just smile and say things like,"That's interesting," or "Oh really?" I'm pretty sure she's not listening to anyone, but more importantly, she just doesn't care about the opinions of everyone who sits in her chair. Very zen.

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YES! YES! YES!

They speak of their faith at great length, even attributing it to their own success and the misfortunes of those who do not believe as they do; they are so sure their faith is the only "true" gospel on Earth--the very height of hubris.

I remember my first month on the job. I mentioned to a coworker that "I'm glad I washed my scrubs before I watched [some scary movie] last night, or I might have been too scared to go into the basement."

To which she replied "you don't need to worry about that, God will protect you."

"No he won't, he doesn't exist."

At this, she audibly gasped, and looked at me like I'd shot her dog. After gathering herself a moment, she said to me "you..don't say that!"

Ever since, the bible thumping zealots at my job have been trying to "save" me. Thing is, I know more about their scriptures, their ceremonies and their sheep savior than they do--this is precisely why I am an atheist; there is an inverse relationship between knowledge and faith, why else would Adam and Eve be commanded not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge?

I was raised in one of their watered-down collection of bible versus, indoctrination and rituals they call a religion and can carry on a reasonably intelligent discussion about it with them whenever I am confronted. I actually welcome these debates when we have downtime; there is nothing wrong with proselytizing.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

There's a couple at my workplace that LOVE church. It's they're hobby, which is cool. But I really don't think they've considered that it isn't everyone else's cup of tea.

They invited the entire facility (small place) to a church function not long ago and were heart broken when only a couple people showed up. They just kept talking about how nice it was and how there was free food, so why in the world wouldn't people come? Completely baffled.

I'm not ashamed to be agnostic, but there's no way I'm mentioning it to them. I get the feeling they wouldn't be able to keep from "saving" me and they'd just end up with hurt feelings.

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Specializes in hospice.
YES! YES! YES!

They speak of their faith at great length, even attributing it to their own success and the misfortunes of those who do not believe as they do; they are so sure their faith is the only "true" gospel on Earth--the very height of hubris.

I remember my first month on the job. I mentioned to a coworker that "I'm glad I washed my scrubs before I watched [some scary movie] last night, or I might have been too scared to go into the basement."

To which she replied "you don't need to worry about that, God will protect you."

"No he won't, he doesn't exist."

At this, she audibly gasped, and looked at me like I'd shot her dog. After gathering herself a moment, she said to me "you..don't say that!"

Ever since, the bible thumping zealots at my job have been trying to "save" me. Thing is, I know more about their scriptures, their ceremonies and their sheep savior than they do--this is precisely why I am an atheist; there is an inverse relationship between knowledge and faith, why else would Adam and Eve be commanded not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge?

I was raised in one of their watered-down collection of bible versus, indoctrination and rituals they call a religion and can carry on a reasonably intelligent discussion about it with them whenever I am confronted. I actually welcome these debates when we have downtime; there is nothing wrong with proselytizing.

Sigh....I guess keeping this in a respectful tone was too much to ask.

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