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Religious quotes on company emails (sm) - Long time MT

Posted: Feb 15, 2010

This has been bothering me for some time now. First of all, let's make something very clear, I am not an atheist. I am a very spiritual, moral and ethical person. However, the supervisors and managers at the company I have been with for about a year now always seem to have a Christian quote appended other their names in the company-based emails. I am very uncomfortable with that in a work setting, especially with these people being in a position of power above me. I don't think politics or religion are appropriate at work (unless that is your work setting). Who is to say that the MT getting the email isn't Jewish or Buddhist or whatever? I am in a quandary what to do because I feel if I lodge a complaint about it, then I will be harassed for being offended? Any thoughts on this?

My thoughts - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Lighten up.

I wonder if you would say lighten up if it was from the Koran, though. - also anon

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Precisely (sm) - Long time MT

[ In Reply To ..]
You made a perfect point. Thanks to all of you who took my concern seriously. Obviously, I will just keep on trying to ignore it, even though it bothers me on a number of levels.

Personal quotes on company e-mails - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't like any personal quotes on company e-mails, regardless of content. For me it's not a question of being "lightened up" or not, but rather receiving so many e-mails during the week that I prefer them to be free of "extras". Fortunately only get e-mails from one person who does this [quotes are not religious] and I don't hear from this person often, so I've left it alone.

Whether to raise the issue with your employer, guess it depends on how much it really bothers you and what kind of relationship you have. As far as concern over others being offended, I would think they could raise the issue themselves if they are bothered.

Actually it is a pet peeve of mine even on personal e-mails because once you've read the quote, joke, or whatever, you really don't need to see it again--and again. Even something that was amusing the first time you read it is definitely not going to be as funny 50 times later -- kind of like a commercial that made you laugh, until they ran it a dozen times in one hour ! :)

I think that's reeeealllly creepy..... - plus they should know better. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Since this is coming from mngt I'm not sure what you can do, - except try to ignore it.

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Pick your battles carefully. Don't cause - trouble for yourself s/m

[ In Reply To ..]
unnecessarily.

Yeah, let it go. It has nothing to do with your job anyway. - Who cares? NM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

if you are not personally offended, - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
then why not just ignore it? I see lots of things on any given day that I don't particularly like, just like some of the posts here. But if it is coming from mgmt, I think if you are going to challenge it, you'd best have a backup job. If this is a national company, would you please tell us which one it is too?

If you are so offended because the messages are - NotPC

[ In Reply To ..]
Christian, why don't you resign, move on to a more politically correct environment? I'm sure there are plenty of others who would not be offended to read Christian quotes on company emails but would instead be thankful to be gainfully employed.

"In the midst of a world of light and love, of song and feast and dance, [Lucifer] could find nothing to think of more interesting than his own prestige." C. S. Lewis

As a Lewis devotee I don't think he would appreciate - his quote used in this context

[ In Reply To ..]
First, it's irrelevant to this situation and the position of the original poster.

Second, it's snide...and Lewis was never snide.

Third, Lewis would never have condoned what he would have called "shoving your religion in someone's face". In fact, that's precisely the sort of advice that Screwtape would have given to his "trainee demon" Wormwood after Wormwood slipped up and allowed his "patient" to be converted to Christianity.

"Don't worry", Screwtape would have said. "All is not lost and we can still deliver him to Our Father Below. Make him proud of his new religion. Have him parade his religion around in front of all his friends. Soon, he will become a social bore, disliked and avoided by all who know him. When he begins to notice that all of his acquaintances scurry to the other side of the street on his approach, when he begins to realize that he is isolated and alienated from the friends of his youth, when his own mother pretends to be have pressing engagements whenever he telephones...we'll get him back."

Don't think it irrelevant at all. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The OP only thinks of her/his own personal offense without regard to what others might think and probably does not consider there might be others in that workplace who enjoy and want the encouragement of the Christian email messages. Rather Luciferian to always think of self and one's own importance.

LOL and Amen!! NM - QA

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

religion is like opinion; everyone has one. Ignore it. - n/m

[ In Reply To ..]
..

Certainly misguided but - probably best ignored

[ In Reply To ..]
There is a cause of action in employer-employee law called "creating a hostile workplace" and this probably would come close to, or cross, that line. My spouse works for an employer who is equally offensive with respect to constantly pushing his political views in a very "aggressive" way. Predictably, employees who agree with him don't mind it and those who disagree feel that they're constantly being pressured to go along with him or else they feel that they have to disguise or suppress their personal opinions.

He's never threatened anyone's job over this as far as I know, but the constant barrage does make the workplace very uncomfortable.

The "hostile workplace" complaint also frequently arises when an employer (or superior) is constantly making sexual references, telling coarse jokes, using foul language or expressing a sexist or racist viewpoint.

Note that the employer does not have to DO anything other than to create OR TOLERATE such an atmosphere. With respect to racism, for instance, the employer doesn't have to take some adverse ACTION against employees of a particular race; all that is necessary to create a hostile atmosphere is to make inappropriate remarks, jokes, etc - or allow other employees to do so. Even posting a cartoon or picture with such objectionable content would qualify.

All of these, of course, exhibit insensitivity to the personal feelings of employees and intrude on an employee's "personal space" (including their personal faith, political views, etc.) in a way that some might reasonably characterize as harassment.

On the other hand, in the form that you describe, and given the current job situation, the length of time it takes to "come up to speed" in a new job (which adds up to monetary loss), and the fact that there is always uncertainty about how a complaint would be received, I'd probably recommend as a friend that you ignore it if possible. However, if it simply gets to the point that it's making your working environment miserable, a courteous request, explaining that you are not comfortable with this, would be the place to start before doing anything else. Perhaps you might put it in terms something like: "I'm sure that you wouldn't be comfortable if I were to sign all of my emails with quotations from Wiccan literature or the humanist philosophers."

There are worse things... - luvzminis

[ In Reply To ..]
it's a little unusual, but with all the shenanigans going on in the world today, there are about 10 billion other things that bother me more than a simple religious quote, which is usually used to uplift and inspire others. I can bet my life there is no type of "conspiracy" here. I know people who use such quotes on mail, etc. and they're innocent, positive thinking types. Personally, I'm inspired by such.

It's rude and not professional and not appropriate to - QA

[ In Reply To ..]
send Christian quotes in emails. Period. Anyone should know better, atheist or Christian. Its pushing YOUR religion on everyone else. If the writers are the real right-wingers, then they also consider it as adding a jewel in their glorious crown in Heaven having "witnessed" to such-and-such a number of "lost souls" on a daily basis. It's disgusting and completely inappropriate, and, Yes, I am a Christian. People like those who send out these emails with their unrequested inspirational hogwash are the reason so many unbelievers are further pushed away - the message is shoved down their throats. Bet there would be zero tolerance of Kabbalah quotes, or the Koran as mentioned, Native American spirituality, or even sports stastistics from the weekend football game. Business is business and should not stick its little tiny toe across the line dividing business with religion. Otherwise, its selfish and offensive and immature of the sender to so vainly think they are uplifting the masses. Pulleeese!! Jesus didn't push himself on anybody, and I'm sure he'd avoid Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or even email. LOL

Thank you, QA! (sm) - Long time MT

[ In Reply To ..]
You expressed it so well. It is offensive because the person doing it has no idea what the belief system is of the recipient. I've always felt that certain topics are not appropriate for the work place.

I'd let it go, but the company is holding itself open - for a possible lawsuit. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Completely agree with you - Sam

[ In Reply To ..]
I experienced the same thing and I didn't like it whatsoever. It can be offensive to those with other beliefs and has no business being on company correspondence. Highly unprofessional and may be even unconstitutional??

Let's look at this realistically.... - luvzminis

[ In Reply To ..]
One thing I think we need to watch, though, is that these days Christians are being constantly attacked by secularists. Perhaps subconsciously, we have picked up on that and are getting (unfair) negative vibes on Christians in general. The media and Washington (current administration) certainly aren't helping the problem.
As for the verses, odd yes, but are they really so offensive? The ones I have seen are uplifting and meant to encourage. Let's not get too introspective on things like this. We have much more to worry about when we see so many attacks on Christians in general.

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