Workplace ministries on the rise

[True_Blue]

Christian consultants such as Drew Crandall are encouraging workers to persuade employers that diversity programs should include religious faith, too.

"Cultural diversity is now very much in vogue. So, our goal is to help corporations to recognize that Christians are part of that diversity," said Crandall, director of Northeast Christians at Work, a Connecticut nonprofit that aids in the creation of workplace ministries in New England, New York and New Jersey.

"We want to widen the net to include anyone in the workplace, from the CEO to the janitor to the cashier," he said.

That net is spreading as more workers attempt to integrate their work and personal lives.

more....
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46&u_sid=1329936

[Newsjock]

1. Here's a deal ...

... You can have your Bible study group at work if I can have a picture of my same-sex partner on my desk.

You don't try to make me a fundamentalist Christian, and I won't try to make you gay.

Deal?

[RoyGBiv]

2. Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That net is spreading as more workers attempt to integrate their work and personal lives.

FUCK THAT!

[Conservativesux]

6. I'll second that. How many of us hate all the office politicians ? nt

[pokercat999]

15. I've found that a well swung baseball bat can solve most

inter-office problems. That is of course after a diplomatic stab at the problem, say a shoving match in the lunch room. lol

[DBoon]

3. I don't want your damn net

leave me out of your religion.

[PassingFair]

4. I swear I will draw a pentagram on my floor!

And I'm not a satanist! One of the reps on my team asked that we hold hands and pray a couple of months ago in a meeting. I did it, but grudgingly. I made it clear to my manager afterwards that I would demand equal time for Druid rituals if it happened again, and it hasn't.

[Skittles]

5. I just cannot get away from these assholes

nt

[Gemini Cat]

7. What a sack of crap.

They're bound and determined to shove their religion down the throats of the trapped people in the work place now. Can't get away from them!

[NVMojo]

8. give me a fecking break already!!!

:evilgrin:

[thefloyd]

9. This might be a stupid question

Are there any rules on the books regarding religion in the workplace?

[donheld]

10. Does this mean we can have a pagan group?

a Muslim Group, a buddhist group. Can we have a satanist group too?

[OneBlueSky]

11. this "Christianization" of the nation that's going on . . .

must be terrifying to those who practice other religions, or no religion at all . . . make no mistake -- the intention here is to ultimately proclaim the US a Christian nation, with a far-right version of Christianity as the state religion . . . where does that leave Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, Pagans, Athiests, and all the rest of the non-Christians? . . . it's quite obvious that the long-term goal is to convert everyone to their type of Christianity (which, for some, is the Dominionist version) . . .

personally, I find evangelicalism abhorrent, but these people have their agenda, and they're determined that nothing will stop them . . . will those who don't want to convert be forced to leave the country? . . . or will they eventually have to wear yellow stars or, worse, have RFID tags embedded in their bodies? . . . this whole "we're a Christian nation" nonsense is both unconstitutional and unethical, in my view, but it's happening and it's getting downright scary . . .

[VegasWolf]

12. In Bay Area high tech companies they wouldn't get many workers,

they would have a much higher success ratio at any sawmill in the
South.

[sweetheart]

13. Sounds brilliant, i can get behind something that stupid

As much as it is the kneejerk reaction to oppose these social engineers,
it could be much more tactical to tell them their stupidest ideas that
will polarize the public MOST intensely, are BRILLIANT ideas.

Facial barcoding, using harmless injections of radioactive materials
in to the facial tissue, can allow satellites to track people by their
radiation signature from space. I can get behind that!

Every company should have to appoint a theological leader, Chief
Ideology Officer, who's job it is to coherently explain-to and control
the states of mind, of the masses. Then the people will give up
thinking for themselves and accept their subservient role to the
great idology of our christian forefathers.

Drug testing on public transit. People should be randomly siezed
based on their wearing badly considered outfits, and drugs tested. Then
the fashion police can hire properly dressed citizens to give lectures
on how you're supposed to dress in a christian society.

Let's create a huge government organization that can arrest anyone and
erase their very existance, destroy their reputation, even kill them
with a tiny poison dart, expertly recovered, that a heart attack
appear natural. Then the organization can "disappear" all people who
critisize the great leader, and we can each sell out souls to a
corporation that should guide us on how to live better lives.

People should be forced to wear patches on thier arms with their last
election ballot clearly marked on them, so that the state can only
hire the people who are of their religion, and all the islamist
fanatics can be arrested and put in to re-education camps along with
the gays, and the lesbians, and the dog lovers, and the pot smokers
and the immoral anti-god people.!

All great ideas that i offer to you republicans to help you with your
movement.

[booksenkatz]

14. Drop-kick to the morning crew. NT

[AngryOldDem]

16. Go back and read the story

Nowhere does it ever say that religious study will be mandated in the workplace. People will not be going around from cubicle to cubicle dropping off tracts or trying to save the souls of their co-workers. Companies are well within their bounds to place restrictions on such activity, as they are any other outside activity that people want to bring in.

This kind of thing has been going on for years, typically before working hours or during lunch breaks. I participated in one before hours many years ago; my husband has been approached to join a lunchtime group. If people want to participate, they may. Those people who are approached by others to participate are easily identified as being the most open to such an idea in the first place anyway. Likewise, if you don't want to participate, don't. As with most things involving religion, the choices are pretty simple. Either you believe or you don't, you take part or you don't. No one can coerce you to do anything unless you allow them.

And the story made a valid point. More people are spending more time at work than anywhere else, and their values are important to them. Can they not find some way to integrate those values while they are at work?

Why does it bother so many people here that there are people of faith who want to exercise that faith? (Not a question necessarily directed to this thread, but to DU in general.)There are some of us who are genuine in our beliefs, not like some of the sham and scam artists who are making a mockery not only of religion but of honest believers.

Donning flame suit now.

[Bridget Burke]

17. The article specifically says that conversion is not the aim.

Unfortunately, few people bother to read the whole thing.

Of course, office politics can corrupt the most innocent efforts. When a supervisor participates--would they prefer & promote their underlings who do likewise? Would this lead to people ("sham & scam artists") joining the groups for the wrong reason? What if you're the "wrong kind" of Christian? Believe me, religious discussions can lead to arguments.

And why is it OK that people are spending more & more time at work? Wouldn't they be better off with sufficient time for spiritual/philosophical pursuits outside the office? Perhaps even involving their families--prayer, meditation and/or Bible study with the children (at home or at church) would reduce the demand for formal prayer in public school.