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

Published

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 HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I used to. The offending few were told countless times to dial it back. Which worked for a week or two. The break room became a very intolerable place, truth be told.

I do find it ironic that those who brag about their Christianity the loudest tend to have glaring flaws that I'm pretty certain those they worship would find distasteful...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

it doesn't come up often at work, but honestly it doesn't bother me when people talk about their religion - or even when they try to preach or come on really strong. i realize they're doing it because this is something they truly believe in and they want to share the joy and peace their religion beings them with other people.

i consider myself spiritual but not religious (which, according to a poll i read a few days ago, is the fastest-growing category in the US!), and i think different religions are all just different ways to relate to the same God. i find it interesting to hear about other people's beliefs tbh. :) it certainly doesn't mean i agree with everything the other person is saying, but it never hurts me to listen. They're just ideas. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.

You should pity those people who talk about Church all the time... They feel guilty about their relationship with God so their only way of diminishing that guilt is to make everybody around them feel guilty.

Thankfully, God does not see church, religion, holy-than-thou outward behaviors. GOD sees the heart.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
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.

She's new to your facility? Then she'll get her REAL orientation after she's annoyed enough people with her routine. Maybe she's just nervous and trying to impress you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
It is true that the 'I'm so great', 'I'm so smart' people get on my nerves. I try to be tolerant of all those around me. To appreciate whatever attributes they have. It just bothers me when that is returned with a condescending attitude. Sometimes I want to say "Just because I am courteous and not constantly bragging about xyz, doesn't mean that you are better than me." ...even if I went to church, I doubt that I would be constantly talking about it. I try to be in the moment.

Whenever I'm around the "I'm so great" people, I inwardly laugh at them. I also feel a bit sorry for them, because it's going to really suck when the Universe inevitably boots them up the bum. Sometimes, though, if they're really getting on my nerves I'll think of an innocent-sounding question to ask them that makes them realize they're not as smart as they think. Sometimes I'm evil.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It doesn't annoy me when people talk about going to church. But I frequently encounter both patients and coworkers who assume everyone is religious, including me (which I'm not). That really annoys me, and makes me feel awkward.

A little off topic, but it also drives me crazy when my patients tell me about how god has healed them. No...that was me, my coworkers, and our outstanding cardiothoracic surgeon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in none.

If God is real, would he not work to heal someone through all the medical staff along the way?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
If God is real, would he not work to heal someone through all the medical staff along the way?

I certainly believe He does. :yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If God is real, would he not work to heal someone through all the medical staff along the way?

Maybe so, but I'm an atheist, so I don't think god is real. I know they're not trying to offend anyone, it's just one of those things that grates my nerves!

I guess I'll probably never hear a patient say, "I can tell you spend your days off studying hemodynamics and pharmacology, your stellar nursing judgement saved my life when I started to tamponade!"

It's a team effort anyway, so I might as well get used to my patients thinking whichever god(s) they worship is part of the team!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
It doesn't annoy me when people talk about going to church. But I frequently encounter both patients and coworkers who assume everyone is religious, including me (which I'm not). That really annoys me, and makes me feel awkward.

A little off topic, but it also drives me crazy when my patients tell me about how god has healed them. No...that was me, my coworkers, and our outstanding cardiothoracic surgeon.

When they tell you God has healed them, just say "You're welcome."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think there's a difference between people talking about activities they are involved in at their church & trying to ram their religious beliefs down somebody's throat. I think to many people church is worship, but also socialization, friends, being involved & emotional support. I' m cool with that, although I am not religious at all. I think most of my coworkers know that, even though I've never made it a point to announce it to the entire hospital.

I used to work with a holier-than-thou nurse who really irritated me at times, continually blathering on about how all homosexuals, non-fundamentalists, democrats, etc. would end up in hell. She freaked out over Halloween decorations on the unit, claiming they were "satanical". One day I got enough of it & pointed out to her how most Christmas symbols predated Christianity by eons & could be traced back to Druids, et al. Her answer: "Well, Christians existed before them." I decided at that point it was stupid to try to reason with her so did my best to tune her out.

Interesting part: when she wasn't talking about religion, she was talking about sex, what she did with her husband in lurid detail. I wasn't the least bit interested in hearing about this either but thought it didn't quite fit in with her endless "preaching." What really did it for me was when a couple of young nurses were getting married-she gave both of them a "sex" talk & told them anything but "missionary"position was a sin. One of the young nurses was marrying a "preacher wannabe" so she totally fell for this. The other was much more progressive in her beliefs & blew her off.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Well, the main person I have in mind talks about her church. Not religious concepts. Kind of like it's a really cool country club that she belongs to. It doesn't offend me, but it annoys me just enough. IMHO, it comes off as a kind of snobbery in this case.

And, yes. I talk about sex a lot. No I don't. Well, maybe. Nevermind.

:roflmao:Maybe she talks about church because​ you talk about sex????

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion