Can you express your faith in your workplace?

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Seeker1961

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This is a spin-off from a conversation I was involved in on another thread.

I’m wondering how strict workplace rules are when it comes to religious expression. Where I work, we can have religious imagery in our cubicles, and we can most certainly read the Bible or pray during our break times. There are Bible studies on property that are held during lunch hours.

I can’t wear my crucifix necklace or my Miraculous Medal, but I can wear one ring on each hand (unless it’s a wedding set, then you can wear 2 on the left hand) and one of mine is a crucifix ring. We do talk about our faith in casual conversations but we don’t denigrate others opinions/beliefs or evangelize. We don’t listen to talk radio or religious stations.

I don’t have a problem with those restrictions, and I’ve had similar ones in most places I’ve worked.
 
I teach at a Catholic School, so yes.

Just today my 6th graders were a bit alarmed to find that animals don’t have an immortal soul and won’t be in heaven. 😃
 
Unfortunately we are not allowed to express anything where we work as we are supposed to be like robots, unless you are someone who likes to express their love for our dear leader.

However, there is a JW in the next department that I see daily when I pass and sometimes I speak to him as the dear leader doesn’t make his way down to this area much.

When I think about it, most people where I work couldn’t care less what my beliefs are as most people these days only think of their immediate selves.

We are not allowed jewelry at all except for a plain wedding ring.
 
The owners of my company are two non-practicing (agnostic) Jews. They do not have any religious restrictions. We have 45 employees at this location and 43 are either practicing Christian or secularized Christians. It is a very open office/company.

We do not have a holiday party; we have a Christmas Party, although once we thank God for the gift of His Son in grace, faith doesn’t come up again, it becomes a secular holiday party with a Secret Santa.

If someone wants to wear jewelry, as long as it is in “good taste” then there are no issues. The same applies to dress. This is the time of year where everyone wears shorts and tee shirts (even in the office) unless they know they have a business visitor.

Whenever somebody sneezes and it is heard throughout the office, there is a chorus of “God bless you…”

There are a few other Catholics in the office that are very orthodox and a few more that are reverts. In our factory we have many hispanics and there are some religious icons (Guadalupe) in the works areas. Most of the hispanics are Catholic and appear to be religious practicing.
 
I work in the South, namely Louisiana :] It’s easier here to. I have a saints calendar, a rosary, and some intriguing Catholic book (I had the purgatory one out for months but no asked me about it 😦 ) on my desk. It’s been a blessing :]
 
I am not aware of any written policy regarding religious expression with my employer, but I have had a small Crucifix and a St. Maximilian Kolbe prayer card on my cube wall for the last several years, and nobody has complained yet ;-).

Occasionally somebody will ask about them, and a respectful discussion of my beliefs usually follows. Thankfully, nobody has ever been even slightly disrespectful (although with the growing anti-Catholicism in society, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time).

God bless!
 
JIB said:
I teach at a Catholic School, so yes.

Just today my 6th graders were a bit alarmed to find that animals don’t have an immortal soul and won’t be in heaven. 😃
Click to expand...
How do you know that there will not be animals in heaven? Is that a prudent thing to teach you children when the Church does not make a statement either way and saints and theologians have opposing views about it?
 
I work at a parish, so I can talk about my faith all day. We are required to go to daily Mass if we are on shift. 🙂

I’ve only worked one place where there was a specific prohibition against talking about religion - we weren’t really encouraged to have personal conversations of any kind - but most places I’ve worked, I’ve always found that it’s the people least likely to be churchgoers who wee the most interested in the subject. 🤷

We actually don’t talk that much in our office about faith issues, unless something happens that causes one of us to make a remark about something.
 
I am student teaching at my parish school right now. I plan and hope to get a job there once I graduate. I love my faith so much, I think I would be depressed if I had to work in an environment where I was not allowed/encouraged to express it.
 
Cristiano said:
How do you know that there will not be animals in heaven? Is that a prudent thing to teach you children when the Church does not make a statement either way and saints and theologians have opposing views about it?
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To be specific I told them animals don’t have an immortal soul.
 
i am allowed to express my Catholic faith , but i have had complaints that i am too Catholic or too religious because i go to daily Mass. i do work in a secular hospital and everything is Happy Holildays, but this includes holidays celebrated in december and early januaury of different faiths . i always say Merry Christmas.
 
I work as a defense contractor, and am the only employee from my company in the bldg. I have a rosary, St. Maximilian Kolbe picture, two copies of the “Imitation of Christ”, a bible, and a Saints calendar. No one has complained yet, and it wouldn’t do much good if they did, since the people that actually write my checks sit miles away.
 
JIB said:
I teach at a Catholic School, so yes.

Just today my 6th graders were a bit alarmed to find that animals don’t have an immortal soul and won’t be in heaven. 😃
Click to expand...
Except our dog,she’ll be there, it wouldn’t be Heaven without her…

As for work I work next to 2 Catholic women, and we do discuss our faith occasionally. With my patients I certainly express my faith, in action, although I don’t talk about it.

Express your faith in the work place by:

Not engaging in gossip, and lifting people up
Obedience to your supervisors, unless being asked to do something immoral
Being kind, especially when others are down
Walking the extra mile
Contributing to things like “employees helping employees”, donations of PLH when someone’s spouse is diagnosed with cancer, etc.
don’t engage in petty competitions, or covet anyone else’s success.
Serving those you meet, customers, co-workers, bosses, etc.

I never feel stifled in expressing my faith, there are many ways to do so that HR has no control over.
 
I do have a crucifix and another necklace which is a Jerusalem cross which I wear a lot. And I know one of the big kahunas is Catholic - our firm advertises in the church bulletin with his name front and centre.

Apart from that, I’m there at work to be Christ for others rather than ear or eye bashing them. Being Franciscan, I hold to the motto of St Francis to preach the gospel at all times - and only use words where necessary.
 
The owners of the company I work at are Episcopalians. He is a church warden, and she is a Eucharistic Minister…I have attended their meeting for worship with them several times…and attended lectures by Karen Armstrong, Marcus Borg, John Spong and Gene Robinson at Trinity Cathedral with them.

As I said in a previous email, we have several gay people…a couple Baptists, a Catholic and a Non-Denominatinal. As long as it is respectful towards others and their beliefs, yes…we can express our faith traditions in the work place. We put up the Xmas tree together…I usually sit that one out as I don’t put up a tree at home…and it just doesn’t float my boat…but I don’t mind if others want to.

The only “restriction” we have is one cannot use their religious beliefs to belittle or make anyone feel they do not work in a “safe” work environment…as was the case whe one of the Baptist women decided she needed to tell our gay employee what she felt about same sex marriag/civil unions and domestic partnership insurance…that won’t be tolerated without a reprimand.

One may hold true to their faith and be respectful…the owners aren’t married…and the Baptist woman is on her third marriage…so I didn’t think she had much room to speak to our gay employee as she did…when she told him…“That’s outside of God’s will and you’re living in sin.”…I asked her…“Oh…by the way…how many times have you been divorced and remarried? You know…that’s outside of God’s will too…so don’t you think you should “clean your own house” before you tell someone else their house is dirty?”

But all in all we get along…I have my “Testament of Devotion” near my desk I read at times when I need to “unwind” and “decompress”…my boss teaches an adult church class and has a Bible in his office…I have one in my desk…so…it’s a great place to work as long as everyone keeps their less than kind opinions to oneself…

I stated…“If you don’t like same sex marriage…don’t have one…but it’s not anyone’s business that one of our gay employees has a partner who is on our insurance policy as his dometic partner…keep the political comments that are hurtful to oneself”
 
Nope. The other day, my boss in front of everyone told me not to mention God at work. Not even “God Bless You” if someone sneezes. This was in response to me socializing with another Catholic, that became my friend at work. I wear a scapular under my shirt, read the Catechism on lunch breaks and says the blessings with meal. Everyone knows I’m converting and most of their reactions were worry and confusion- One told me to come to her church instead. If I was converting to Islam, they might have had the same reaction. I have nothing against Muslims and I am a very open minded future Catholic that prides them self on encouraging all religions to be practiced. It sucks that that sentiment can’t be returned to me. The good thing about this kind of persecution is that my Catholic friends are on my side and so is the law. I just wish my boss would be more respectful- I respect his religion. He should learn something from my example.:mad:
 
You can express your faith in any workplace- through your actions.
 
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