High & mighty co-worker

[snookumsnort]

Our workplace is small and diverse. We have Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Methodists, and agnostics. What's frustrating is that there is this Muslim guy who goes around being very preach-y. He insists that a fellow Muslim follow their practices strictly. And since today is Good Friday, even suggested that Jesus might not have existed...in front of Christians. We can hardly have an intellectual discussion about the different religious beliefs, or non-beliefs because he will always interject and insist that his religion is right.

I don't even think anybody has gotten it right. So why can't he just respect that everyone is different?

[aperio]

You know, I always try to appreciate someone who is passionate about their faith, even if I don't believe what they do... but in the same breath, I find it so incredibly frustrating when people are close minded to hear anything you have to say and meanwhile try to shove their beliefs down your throat in the process. To me, that reaches a point where it becomes ignorance and does quite the opposite of exactly what it is they are hoping to achieve.

To have a level-headed, respectful conversation about differences opens the door to a more well received conversation.

Bottom line answer to your question is the guy is simply ignorant.

[CopyCat]

Originally Posted by snookumsnort

Our workplace is small and diverse. We have Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Methodists, and agnostics. What's frustrating is that there is this Muslim guy who goes around being very preach-y. He insists that a fellow Muslim follow their practices strictly. And since today is Good Friday, even suggested that Jesus might not have existed...in front of Christians. We can hardly have an intellectual discussion about the different religious beliefs, or non-beliefs because he will always interject and insist that his religion is right.

I don't even think anybody has gotten it right. So why can't he just respect that everyone is different?

I think you should look at this from his standpoint...
He is trying very desperately to save you from an eternity of damnation...
Think about it, just what steps would you go to, to save someone from
burning in hell for eternity... This sounds like a pretty nice guy to me...
However misguided, he has your best interests at heart... I have a lot of
respect for people like your Musim friend or for anyone that pushes there religion...

[Tyrfingr]

Originally Posted by snookumsnort

Our workplace is small and diverse. We have Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Methodists, and agnostics. What's frustrating is that there is this Muslim guy who goes around being very preach-y. He insists that a fellow Muslim follow their practices strictly. And since today is Good Friday, even suggested that Jesus might not have existed...in front of Christians. We can hardly have an intellectual discussion about the different religious beliefs, or non-beliefs because he will always interject and insist that his religion is right.

I don't even think anybody has gotten it right. So why can't he just respect that everyone is different?

Pretty annoying, but you learn to live with it eventually. There's preachers here and there, and faithful people seem to be alot less accepting and tolerant. I suppose only the bhuddists belong to the group of people who have the wits about them, not to push their beliefs on you and everywhere else they see fit. Live and let live, that's my kind of mentality.

[LilMissDisney]

Isn't there something in the bhuddist belief system that says you should always question your beliefs to ensure that you actually have them? Or something along those lines.

Could you not try the idea that the workplace isn't a church?

[MovieAddict]

These kind of people are just annoying. Me and my co-worker have lots of differences when it comes to religion. We somewhat debate, throw a question and answer the question, then vice versa. We never arrive in a heated argument because we respect each others belief because its just our own decision to believe what we want to believe in. If come close to people like that Muslim guy that Snook mentioned, I just avoid them.

[CopyCat]

People are just lucky that I am an atheist because if I believed in God,
I would be the worlds worst about shoving religion down your throats...
As I read and understand the Bible, it says "And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"...
That in no way sounds like "live and let live or to each his own"...
Its pretty cut and dry its saying to get your butt out there and
convert as many people as you can to the word of God...

A Letter From An Atheist To A Christian Video -...

[AbigailD]

CopyCat is correct. All Christians were commissioned, as followers and believers in God and his son Jesus to spread the good news of the Kingdom. It is part of being a Christian, as is enduring the persecution that may come with it.

In fact the Bible states at Matthew 28; 19

19 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

So if you are Christian and not doing that, then you are not following, truly, your own faith. He is, however I do believe that there are more effective ways of doing it. You cannot save a person who you have turned off by beating them to death with your holy book. Gentle words are far more effective.

[xertsl]

"All Christians were commissioned"
thats going to be my quote of the week