By STEVIEMGALLACHER
Added: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:03:08 UTC

Hi

This is my first post. Xmaseveeve has been a friend of mine for several years, and has been encouraging me to join the discussion here.

It's taken me a while as I didn't think I had much to add to the discussion, and had pretty much assumed there would be many people here far more educated and knowledgeable than myself, but a recent event at work has caused me to seek the opinions and advice of others of a similar world view.

I'll avoid mentioning where I work, or naming anyone involved, but it started with a colleague mentioning taking her very young daughter to a toddlers' prayer group at the weekend, something along the lines of a Sunday school playgroup as far as I could tell. This started a conversation, with another colleague saying that all children should be made to go to Sunday school. When I disagreed, saying I didn't agree with children being indoctrinated, I was told in no uncertain terms that I was wrong, and that Sunday school provides "moral fibre". I decided to step up a bit here and asked if this person had actually read the bible, and was met with some non-committal mumbles. I proceeded to mention the lack of evidence that the character of Jesus actually existed, and was told again that I was wrong and "talking nonsense".

At this point the conversation caught the attention of a 3rd employee, whom I know to be a very devout Christian. He told me that a person’s religion is beyond question, and that I needed to "have faith" to understand. Here there was a general agreement to disagree.

Later that day I found myself with a migraine (I suffer from these regularly) and asked if anyone had any pain killers as I’d run out. The 2nd person mentioned above was good enough to give me some Paracetamol tablets, and a couple of hours later I mentioned that I was feeling better - and this is where it gets strange. The person who had given me the pills told me that they would have worked faster if I’d believed in God, which I took in good humour based on the earlier conversation. However, over the rest of the day there were many similar comments from the same person, and it seems he is having difficulty accepting that I don’t share his supernatural beliefs.

I suppose my question is this; now that my views are more widely known, and it seems I’m to be outnumbered, do I keep my opinions to myself? Do I engage in debate when challenged? Or if the comments/verbal barbs continue, do I take my concerns to management?

I imagine many of the non-believers on this forum will have an opinion, and quite possibly some 1st hand experience, on this topic, and I’d very much appreciate anyone's opinions and/or advice.

Stevie

TAGGED: ATHEISM, FAMILY/FRIENDS/COLLEAGUES, RELIGION