Religious Zealotry and the workplace

So we're having a quasi-deep political debate at work during prep, and my chef, an untreated born again addict in recovery looks me in the eye and says "Nate, what are you going to do when you get to hell, and you look around, and see the fire and torment and realize 'Gosh, they were right.'"

Me I feel that this is horribly inappropriate, discuss, you jackals you

all i can say is, if heaven is full of people like him, count me out, sir!

I'd do Jesus.


EDIT: if one of us was a girl

EDIT: or wasted

EDIT: nevermind he's hot



[Edited on Jul 05, 2004 by Raydancer]

i've done jesus. he gives shitty head....

I always feel people are entitled to their opinions (even if they are crap opinions, I disagree with them, and the person just sucks in general (j/k )), but yes, that does seem mildly inappropriate to bust out on someone at work.

Or anywhere really. Ever.

Who says that to someone? I mean honestly?

Crap like that makes me shudder.

So much for the ever-loving power and embracing spirit of Jesus Christ.

I'm a Christian. I would NEVER say this to you, ESPECIALLY not in the workplace. It is highly inappropriate, and frankly I have enough to worry about with myself without telling other people what they need to do.

Especially when he's my boss, when I fuck up I get sermons in the office, and mistakes have something to do with childhood pain. Oh and he told me that Led Zepplin sold their souls to the devil....

It seems that you're a rare breed

Thank you. I always have been, Christian or not.

Next time you make a mistake suggest that they have something to do with the prick shrieking fire and brimstone sermons at you every other minute

And everyone knows the devil produces the best rock and roll bands

[Edited on Jul 05, 2004 by Annee]

Here is an idea why don't you counter rhetoric with reason instead of more rhetoric. Ask him if "hell" exists why orthadox jews (from whcih christianity was created) do not believe in it.

I'd have laughed and said actually I intend to go to Nirvana

You should have pointed out that Hell was made up by the Catholic church in the middle ages to induce people into giving them money, to insure there place in heaven.

[Edited on Jul 06, 2004 by germ13]

I find the notion of a God that would throw an otherwise good person into Hell for simply believing in the "wrong" religion repugnant.

It reminds me of that scene in the South Park movie where everyone is wondering why they're in Hell and the devil welcoming them says "The correct answer was Mormon."

[Edited on Jul 06, 2004 by jake_lex]

nice!

i think that's purgatory, actually, germ. i'm not entirely sure, but if you get to purgatory (which is little like the departure lounge), you could pay for their soul to go to Heaven. Purgatory isn't in the Bible at all.

I think Augustine played a role in creating Heaven and Hell (or God and the Devil) as we imagine it these days. Can anyone elaborate on this, theology fans?

yeah, this is what i thinking about in my previous post.

can anyone explain why this is?

I haven't had it at work, the only time I had such an encounter was when I went to the Bridge School Benefit a couple of years ago. Bascically it's a huge concert to fund a school for autistic children. There were more "religious zealots" picketing that concert than I ever saw at even a Manson concert. They told every person going in that they were going to hell...at a benefit concert for kids. What the hell?

I was going to have a thoughtful response....and then I read this...and couldn't stop laughing.

i used to get that when i lived in a small, rural town that was predominately southern baptist (& other protestant religions). i got this every day. at school or work, because my family was catholic and i was (am) pagan. accordingly, we were all damned to hell by these "good" people. i learned to ignore it. the people who said these kinds of things or made derogatory comments about my religion or my family's religion didn't think it was out of line in the least; they thought (really) they had the right and the obligation to say these things. some of them really did believe they were doing me a favor.

anyway. i'd ignore it; you're probably not going to do anything but inflame the situation by trying to convince this man he behaved innappropriately. if it continues, and it makes it difficult for you to work or really, really bothers you, you might want to consider consulting the ACLU.

and lastly, yes, purgatory and limbo both were "invented" in the middle ages. the concept of hell predates this era, and is not an exclusively christian idea.

Update.... I got a 45 minute sermon yesterday, although I didn't want to stop him because he was being so candid about shit that's happend to him in his life.... but still his degree of superstition (especially about the "devil") still amazes me to no end.... I find it hard to belive an inteligent person in this day and age can still think that way...

That coworker undoubtedly believes his message is the equivalent to warning you not to stick your fork in the toaster: you're unwittingly placing yourself in peril and he wants to point out the danger you're in.

Did you know that if you follow the actual historical texts about the man known as Jesus of Nazareth when he 'ascended to heaven' it means he travelled east. There is evidence that he travelled through Afghanistan before arriving in Tibet where he became a Buddhist monk

wait i love this conversations at work.. you know why? cuase i can get tehm all sidetracked and spend the entire day debating and philosophing religion, then come the end of the day i managed to spend 8 hours not doing anything but pissing tehm off. but the finall kicker is at teh end of teh day when they thinkthey won i show them my barcode tattoo, and watch thier jaws drop, in shock

Not really

I have a part-time job a few nights a week. Thsi older guy who works there as well...he's in his late 50's early 60's...just strikes up a conversation with me. He started out fairly basic....."Where are you from.........what do you do for a living" Then he asked me "What church do you go to?" I was pretty taken aback. First off, it's none of your business....second, that's pretty presumptuous in this day & age. Not wanting to get into a debate about privacy...I just told him that I don't go to church anymore...but I was raised Roman Catholic. He said "So was I" and I thought it would die there.....but now. Here's where it got creepy.

The next words out of his mouth were:

"I was 50 years old when I found out that my eternal sould will reside in heaven"

What could I say to that? What possible response is there to a statement like that? I just said "That must be nice for you"

So he starts asking me

"Do you read the bible?"
"no"
"Do you have a Bible?"
"yes"
"I read the bible every day"
"That's nice"
"But I only read the King James version"
"Great"
*hands cash a pamphlet*
"You should read this, along with your bible"
"thanks"

I really just went along with it to avoid an even more awkward conversation. I wanted to tell him that it was fine if he was a weak-minded idiot who needed a stifling religion as a crutch for his inner guilt, but leave me out of your wierd God-boy world. Instead, I just smiled & nodded and thought about puppies.