My Christian fundie co-worker...

[Galvatron]

...has taken it upon himself to tell my other co-workers that I "hate God" because I'm an atheist. I haven't noticed a lot of fallout from this (yet), but I was overlooked when my supervisor (a moderate Catholic) recently had his baby boy baptized and everyone except me was invited to the event. Keep in mind, I don't advertise my atheism so it's not as if I'm some outspoken, anti-religious activist in the workplace.

Anyone else with similar experiences?

[haas mark]

...has taken it upon himself to tell my other co-workers that I "hate God" because I'm an atheist. I haven't noticed a lot of fallout from this (yet), but I was overlooked when my supervisor (a moderate Catholic) recently had his baby boy baptized and everyone except me was invited to the event. Keep in mind, I don't advertise my atheism so it's not as if I'm some outspoken, anti-religious activist in the workplace.

Anyone else with similar experiences?

The lady who makes omelettes in the mornings was preaching to me becuase I wear dragons. Dragons are my guardian, but apparently they (not the goat) are also the sign of the devil. That and I'm supposed to go read the Bible every day.

mew.

[Stormbringer]

...has taken it upon himself to tell my other co-workers that I "hate God" because I'm an atheist. I haven't noticed a lot of fallout from this (yet), but I was overlooked when my supervisor (a moderate Catholic) recently had his baby boy baptized and everyone except me was invited to the event. Keep in mind, I don't advertise my atheism so it's not as if I'm some outspoken, anti-religious activist in the workplace.

Anyone else with similar experiences?

Well, consider this though? would you want to go to a baptism?

[jegs2]

Well, consider this though? would you want to go to a baptism?

Sure.

[Guest]

You think thats bad, my whole family are Baptists. They see me as the spawn of satan because i point blank refuse to go to church with them. Most of my family dis-owned me coz i had the gall to date a Catholic.

[Lagmonster]

I have a coworker who's a Jehovah's Witness, AND a coworker who's a fundamentalist YEC. Both are annoying.

I basically slide on a trend with them; start with ignoring them, proceed to debating with them, then to laughing at them, and now we're at the point where I just flip them off as I pass them in the halls.

As for the 'you hate god' comment, the best retort to that is, "Hate him? He doesn't *exist*? That's like saying I hate Santa Claus." If they persist beyond that simple answer, go with "Look, you go worship your hatemongering bogeyman and leave the rest of us be, got it?".

That works for me, but then again, I look like a henchman from a James Bond flick and have access to a hazardous biological materials incinerator.

[salm]

no similar incidents besides the minor one in the usa when a friend of my aunt got mad because i didnt join them to church on xmas ( if you go to rome do as the romans do yaddayaddayadda). damn, she was stupid!

[jegs2]

As for the 'you hate god' comment, the best retort to that is, "Hate him? He doesn't *exist*? That's like saying I hate Santa Claus." If they persist beyond that simple answer, go with "Look, you go worship your hatemongering bogeyman and leave the rest of us be, got it?".

I would not recommend that response, as it will likely just inflame the situation. The fellow who is saying these things about you is not following Biblical principles. Tell him to read about what Jesus did and then try to follow his example. If he does so, you should not hear anything more on the subject...

[salm]

spread the rumor that he´s pedophile and you´ll be rid of him quite soon.

[Lagmonster]

I would not recommend that response, as it will likely just inflame the situation.

I disagree. Why should Galvatron know anything about Jesus and what he did? He is an atheist, so he has no reason to know what the teachings of that guy are supposed to be. Thus, why is he supposed to be expected to deal with Christians by quoting positive Christian text at them?

Besides which, the coworker is being an intolerant asshole. It has nothing to do with religious tenets. The guy probably knows that Christians are supposed to be nice and chariable and tolerant and forgiving, but he is throwing all that to the wind and CHOOSING to be a bigot.

My first response of 'He doesn't exist' is perfectly valid. He is not counter-accusing the asshole of anything, just stating the facts as he sees them and defending himself from the nonsensical accusation publicly thrown at him. If the guy is a true asshole and progresses to harassment, then my second option sentence is as good as any. It's better than flipping him off; it's a statement of separation - 'don't pester me with your religious bigotry, since I haven't and won't degrade you to your face for having them'.

[Darth Wong]

My response to the "you hate God" comment is simple. "He hates me."

[Galvatron]

My response to the "you hate God" comment is simple. "He hates me."

The problem is: he never says it to my face. He prefers to slander me behind my back.

[Yogi]

Report it to your boss, I'm sure this is grounds for harassment. If it doesn't work, do it the Americian way : sue.

[Admiral Valdemar]

My response to the "you hate God" comment is simple. "He hates me."

It's simple and shows your attitude to the whole situation. Personally, I wouldn't be too bothered if some religious nutcase hated me (isn't that ironic, love thy enemy my arse!) and so on. But preaching it to co-workers is just plain wrong.

Wanker.

[Darth Servo]

My response to the "you hate God" comment is simple. "He hates me."

It's simple and shows your attitude to the whole situation. Personally, I wouldn't be too bothered if some religious nutcase hated me (isn't that ironic, love thy enemy my arse!) and so on. But preaching it to co-workers is just plain wrong.

Wanker.

The thing is that most Fundies don't know the true meaning of the word love (granted many don't know much of anything ). The religious fanatics who have committed the atrocities over the centuries honestly believed they were doing the world a favor.

[Admiral Valdemar]

My response to the "you hate God" comment is simple. "He hates me."

It's simple and shows your attitude to the whole situation. Personally, I wouldn't be too bothered if some religious nutcase hated me (isn't that ironic, love thy enemy my arse!) and so on. But preaching it to co-workers is just plain wrong.

Wanker.

The thing is that most Fundies don't know the true meaning of the word love (granted many don't know much of anything ). The religious fanatics who have committed the atrocities over the centuries honestly believed they were doing the world a favor.

Ignorance is bliss, eh?

Funny you should mention the love thing too since on the GP4Teens forum they are trying to define love. Good luck, they can't grasp simple logic letalone something that no one can truly define.

[aerius]

I was surrounded by fundies at one of my previous jobs, pity since the job was actually quite decent otherwise. I was about the only non religious person at my work too, and besides being a complete bitch my boss was a fundie as well. Every conversation would drift to religion, christianity to be specific, and would end with them quoting the bible at me and trying to convert me. Even after I said "listen, I'm not religious, and I'm not going to be, so quit your preaching", they persisted in their ways, and actually stepped up their efforts. This was brought up with management but they were a bunch of rabid fundies as well, and seeing how it was only a summer job I wasn't going back to I decided that it was time for me to have some fun.

It started with my music, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, and Slayer were put into regular rotation on my work radio, and I got some satanic themed temporary tattoos and wore "evil" t-shirts. I also started to pull all conversations into sex, violence, drugs, and other "immoral" subjects. Some of the fundies gave up and left me alone after this, but a few persisted saying they were "trying to save my soul from the devil", and I'd just laugh at them, which they found disturbing. After a while I was deemed a lost cause and they all just left me alone and kept away from me.

[Admiral Valdemar]

I was surrounded by fundies at one of my previous jobs, pity since the job was actually quite decent otherwise. I was about the only non religious person at my work too, and besides being a complete bitch my boss was a fundie as well. Every conversation would drift to religion, christianity to be specific, and would end with them quoting the bible at me and trying to convert me. Even after I said "listen, I'm not religious, and I'm not going to be, so quit your preaching", they persisted in their ways, and actually stepped up their efforts. This was brought up with management but they were a bunch of rabid fundies as well, and seeing how it was only a summer job I wasn't going back to I decided that it was time for me to have some fun.

It started with my music, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, and Slayer were put into regular rotation on my work radio, and I got some satanic themed temporary tattoos and wore "evil" t-shirts. I also started to pull all conversations into sex, violence, drugs, and other "immoral" subjects. Some of the fundies gave up and left me alone after this, but a few persisted saying they were "trying to save my soul from the devil", and I'd just laugh at them, which they found disturbing. After a while I was deemed a lost cause and they all just left me alone and kept away from me.

Heh, I wonder what it would be like if you invited them to meet Ozzy one day?

[aerius]

Heh, I wonder what it would be like if you invited them to meet Ozzy one day?

Ozzy: bubbles? fuckin' bubbles??!! C'mon, I'm the fucking prince of fucking darkness and and *mumbles* we go these like fucking bubbles? Fucking christ man, I mean like..like I'm suppose to do a fucking show with this fucking fairy shit?


Hopefully the profanity will cause seizures in the fundies, and Ozzy's evil reputation should be enough to silence them for good. If it were possible, I'd like to see Ozzy bite the head off a fundie and spit it out, and have the whole thing broadcast worldwide on live TV.

[haas mark]

Heh, I wonder what it would be like if you invited them to meet Ozzy one day?

Ozzy: bubbles? fuckin' bubbles??!! C'mon, I'm the fucking prince of fucking darkness and and *mumbles* we go these like fucking bubbles? Fucking christ man, I mean like..like I'm suppose to do a fucking show with this fucking fairy shit?


Hopefully the profanity will cause seizures in the fundies, and Ozzy's evil reputation should be enough to silence them for good. If it were possible, I'd like to see Ozzy bite the head off a fundie and spit it out, and have the whole thing broadcast worldwide on live TV.

I beleieve it ws the bloody FUCKING prince of darkness...?

[haas mark]

My response to the "you hate God" comment is simple. "He hates me."

I should use that...no wait...it would work for them...damn...

[jegs2]

I would not recommend that response, as it will likely just inflame the situation.

I disagree. Why should Galvatron know anything about Jesus and what he did? He is an atheist, so he has no reason to know what the teachings of that guy are supposed to be. Thus, why is he supposed to be expected to deal with Christians by quoting positive Christian text at them?

Simply put, know your enemy. As an intelligence anylist, I must be completely familiar with enemy order of battle, doctrine, leadership and tactics. This allows me to get into the enemy commander's decision cycle and disrupt it. In debate or even everyday life, things are no different. If Galvatron spouted Biblical quotes that made his aggressor look the fool, then he'd most likely be taken aback and be far more wary of spreading disinformation about Galvatron.

Besides which, the coworker is being an intolerant asshole. It has nothing to do with religious tenets. The guy probably knows that Christians are supposed to be nice and chariable and tolerant and forgiving, but he is throwing all that to the wind and CHOOSING to be a bigot.

....all the more reason to do as I suggested. I'm sure his coworker fully expects the course of action you've recommended and has already prepared his counter, so instead, throw him off-balance with something he couldn't possibly expect.

My first response of 'He doesn't exist' is perfectly valid. He is not counter-accusing the asshole of anything, just stating the facts as he sees them and defending himself from the nonsensical accusation publicly thrown at him. If the guy is a true asshole and progresses to harassment, then my second option sentence is as good as any. It's better than flipping him off; it's a statement of separation - 'don't pester me with your religious bigotry, since I haven't and won't degrade you to your face for having them'.

I had no issue with the first part of your response. It is the inflamatory remarks that followed with which I took issue. If you answer a fool according to his folly, lowering yourself to his level, you're simply playing by his rules and thus being led around by the nose. Why do it?

[Galvatron]

My response to the "you hate God" comment is simple. "He hates me."

Of course, I could always say:

I don't hate God...

...I am a god!!!

[Darth Wong]

Simply put, know your enemy. As an intelligence anylist, I must be completely familiar with enemy order of battle, doctrine, leadership and tactics. This allows me to get into the enemy commander's decision cycle and disrupt it. In debate or even everyday life, things are no different. If Galvatron spouted Biblical quotes that made his aggressor look the fool, then he'd most likely be taken aback and be far more wary of spreading disinformation about Galvatron.

Or Galvie could blast him with his big orange arm cannon. But it's true that these people are usually shocked when you can rattle off Biblical quotes or references to specific Biblical events. However, they usually recover and say something like "Well, I don't recall that passage. I'll have to look it up and get back to you". And they never do.

I had no issue with the first part of your response. It is the inflamatory remarks that followed with which I took issue. If you answer a fool according to his folly, lowering yourself to his level, you're simply playing by his rules and thus being led around by the nose. Why do it?

If I tell a fundie that the Biblical God hates me so it's perfectly reasonable for me to hate him back, that's probably more unexpected than any response you advocate. The fact is that these people are accustomed to having their assumptions humoured. They are not accustomed to having people state flat-out "I'm an atheist" to their faces, nor are they accustomed to having a proud atheist look them right in the eye and ask "why do you think it's OK to hurt people like me, and my children?"

[jegs2]

Or Galvie could blast him with his big orange arm cannon. But it's true that these people are usually shocked when you can rattle off Biblical quotes or references to specific Biblical events. However, they usually recover and say something like "Well, I don't recall that passage. I'll have to look it up and get back to you". And they never do.

...so then you've won, and you can follow it up with a warning to the coworker about violation of your religious freedom. That would likely make the coworker far less likely to spread disinformation and perhaps illicit an apology from him...

The fact is that these people are accustomed to having their assumptions humoured. They are not accustomed to having people state flat-out "I'm an atheist" to their faces, nor are they accustomed to having a proud atheist look them right in the eye and ask "why do you think it's OK to hurt people like me, and my children?"

That would be an effective answer, while not lowering oneself to the assailant's level, and it would likely reap the desired response.