How would you deal with a fundie you have to work with?

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-03-01 12:44am

It's funny, tonight I was talking with a co worker (a guy I only work with about once per month) that happens to be a fundie. We were talking about some funeral services that we recently worked, and the subject of a Jehovah's Witness service came up. He mentioned that he had to work one for a Hispanic family, and he then told me "I'm glad it was in Spanish because I don't have to listen to their lies."

I got to thinking. How arrogant are these people? He either assumes that I am a fellow fundie, or he doesn't care and thinks that I need to know how he feels. For all he knows, I could have been a Jehovah's Witness! I'm sure if he knew I am an atheist, however, he would think less of me than the JW's!

Anyone have any fundie stories?

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-03-01 12:57am

Do bring up religion to begin with. Make sure they know it's not something you like to discuss. However, if they start spouting bullshit, let them have it (politely of course).

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2003-03-01 01:02am

I would tactfully ignore the issue unless directly pressed, as in "Why don't I see YOU at my church?" In general, that's how I go about stuff.

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-03-01 01:03am

How about you bury them alive in the bottom lining of the coffin at the next funeral?

You can claim that you have no idea what happened to them when the police investigate...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-01 01:04am

Fundies tend to confront people in a very aggressive way about their religious beliefs. They'll spout at any remote excuse, because they firmly believe they're completely 100% right and YOU need to be confronted with "the truth". As far as they're concerned, it's their DUTY to be as open and confrontational about religion as possible.

The funny thing is that they often get RIGHTEOUSLY pissed off if they run into someone whose beliefs are different, but comes right back at them rather than backing off and letting them spout without opposition. They're accustomed to the common reaction where people are afraid to say anything once they discover how fervent their beliefs are, for fear of offending them (as if what's good for the goose is not good for the gander).

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-03-01 01:06am

I try to smash them theologically.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-03-01 01:08am

How about you just work with them? Is this such a novel concept, or must you take it upon yourself to smite their stupidity, in much the same way as they think they're doing for you?

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-03-01 01:11am

I DO just work with them. I was just wondering what everyone else thinks.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-01 01:11am

Howedar wrote:How about you just work with them? Is this such a novel concept, or must you take it upon yourself to smite their stupidity, in much the same way as they think they're doing for you?

Ah, let them annoy you constantly without saying a word in return? And what would this accomplish? Oh yeah, they win. Good plan

The only way to make a fundie shut up is to make it VERY clear to him that he will never convert you, and that worse yet, you CAN and WILL make him look like an ignorant moron if he tries to cross verbal swords with you.

But of course, if you would prefer to let a fundie asshole run roughshod over everyone in the office for fear of being direct, go right ahead.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-03-01 01:49am

I would tell my manager about how uncomfortable they make me feel, and about how the fundie removes the efficiency of the workplace by being so confrontational and intolerant. They'd be fired real quick.
But that's my workplace, I don't know how you guys have it.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-03-01 02:04am

I know quite a few fundamentalists who don't shove their beliefs in my face.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-03-01 02:12am

I dont recall ever having a fundie in the workplace. Silicon Valley is a pretty diverse place, most people keep their religion at home instead of at work. Aside from the occasional God Bless you are something.

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2003-03-01 09:48am

At my work we have a guy who tell his fundie crap to anyone who will listen (and the whole floor is a cube farm). My coworker and I ignore him for two reasons: the first is that he's in another group; the second is that most of our group is young and working on maintenance database and interfaces while his group is much older and working on missile systems. If we start debating him and cause the shit to hit the fan (and it probably would), who do you think the management is going to side with? We'd much rather that he wanders into our group first.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2003-03-01 10:20am

How would you deal with a fundie you have to work with?

Five Words
Cholofum, Bus ticket to Mexico

By the time they walk up they should be hundreds of miles away without money or ID

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-03-01 10:37am

I remember one Catholic Fundie from when i worked in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. She was so ignorant and biggoted it wasn't funny. WHen i first met her we were talking down in the photocopying room where i went to skive in the afternoon. She was talking about how all the people in our office where good catholics, etc. Then she turned round and went on about how she wouldn't know what to say to an Irish Protestant if she met one. I smiled at her and said that she was doing a pretty shitty job of it. I burst out laughing as the colour left her face and she looked at me like a sprouted a second head.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-03-01 11:11am

Well, the problem is that, at my work, I a surrounded by findies. When we take trips, I have to listen to their Christian music or talk shows.

It's actually a good job to have while being in school. I just wish they would keep their brainwashing crap to themselves.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2003-03-01 12:05pm

As long as they don't preach the bible at me and try to convert me, I really don't care. Once they do they get a firm warning like "I'm not religious and I'm never going to be. Quit your preachin' before I get pissed off and whack you." If they don't shut up (they rarely do) then it's open season on them. I'll ridicule their preachings and poke them full of holes in a hostile manner. Then the Ozzy Osbourne and other "devil" T-shirts start getting worn to work, and I start playing the "devil music" (Ozzy, Slayer, Black Sabbath, etc.). Usually around this point they start getting freaked out and they leave me alone. Don't forget to talk about porn and sex a lot, go into graphic detail about anal, positions, penis size, ejaculation distance, and that kind of stuff, it makes fundies quite uneasy around you and make them leave you alone.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-03-01 12:18pm

Superman wrote:Well, the problem is that, at my work, I a surrounded by findies. When we take trips, I have to listen to their Christian music or talk shows.

It's actually a good job to have while being in school. I just wish they would keep their brainwashing crap to themselves.

You can't supply your own music?

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-03-01 01:34pm

I once went into an FCA(fellowship of christian Atheletes) meeting with a group of friends

They had a YEC speaker, talking about a "conspiracy of science" and we smacked him down. We just barely avoided being jumped by militant christians at the end of the meeting.

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-03-01 01:39pm

Just a 16 year old telling me every day that I was wrong for being gay.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-03-01 02:09pm

Kill him/her/it

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-03-01 02:30pm

Alyrium Denryle wrote:Kill him/her/it

lol... I already had to punch him for smacking my tattoo the day after I got it.. and now we don't even talk or see each other.. I left that job in October.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-03-01 02:31pm

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail37.html

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2003-03-01 03:52pm

Once again, Strong Bad provides the solution to all of life's problems.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-03-01 05:40pm

Alferd Packer wrote:Once again, Strong Bad provides the solution to all of life's problems.

I think Superman should write Strong Bad some E-mail.