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Advice needed! (Praying at work)

In similar situations I have simply stood quietly and politely waiting for them to finish. I don't bow my head, I don't close my eyes. I stand unobtrusively with my hands behind my back. If you bring up the company policy, which you are certainly justified in doing, I would only mention it once. The real question is how others will react to your lack of participation. Hopefully they will respect you and leave it at that.
 
Mobyseven said:
Is the group prayer part of your work, or part of a volunteer program organised by your work? I'm unclear on the situation here.
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Nope.

We went to an orphanage to do some cleaning and be with the children. There were several groups doing this at different places for 3 days (the past weekend, to be specific). For each amount of hours (I really don't remember how many) that we worked in those places, the Company would give $1,000 for the charity or place we were working at.

One of the prayers took place when we gathered at the store to set out for that place because one of the employees felt that we needed God to guide us through and so on.

The other one took place after we left the place and it was requested by a different employee, to let God guide our way back home.

Btw, there have been some other small prayers at the store, made by supervisors.
 
I've been to division-level meetings that included a prayer that closed with "in Jesus' name - Amen" - which is particularly disturbing since I work for the state gov't, and my entire chain of command was at the meeting (not counting the governor, who recently was on TV praying for rain). If I want to be sure & get the crappiest jobs out there, have no chance at promotion, etc. all I have to do is complain...

There are a lot of ways to make people miserable at work without making it easy to document.
 
I think you'd be covered, even if the work is voluntary, as it's sponsored by your er.

For example, if you get hurt off-site doing this work, I bet worker's comp would cover your injury.
 
Plenty of good advice here. I can't add to it. But I want to pick this bone:

"I can understand that I live in a country that is Christian based ...."

You live in a country currently overrun by people who believe that, but in fact the U.S. (I'm wearily certain that you live in the U.S.; makes me want to do a Jeremiah Wright) is not religiously based at all; America is a secular nation. Period. Full stop.

You have every right to march to a different drummer.
 
Next time they want to pray ask them if you can lead the prayer. When they say OK, get on your knees, waive your hands in the air and scream, "HEEEYYY ALA ALA ALA ALA BABA BABA BABA COMO LATTA MEGA SAWNI TAGO!". :yikes::shocked:
 
sackett said:
Plenty of good advice here. I can't add to it. But I want to pick this bone:

"I can understand that I live in a country that is Christian based ...."

You live in a country currently overrun by people who believe that, but in fact the U.S. (I'm wearily certain that you live in the U.S.; makes me want to do a Jeremiah Wright) is not religiously based at all; America is a secular nation. Period. Full stop.

You have every right to march to a different drummer.
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I live in Puerto Rico and perhaps yes, the "Christian -based" thing is only because the people that run the government have those beliefs. That's actually what I meant by it. :)
 
After they say "Amen" ask if they wouldn't mind taking a moment for homage to Satan. :eek:

Just kidding - it's that kind of day. Some wise advice above, though.
 
[X] said:
Especially if you live in the Bible Belt.
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Oubliette, out of my own morbid curiosity, where are you located? A state or general region is fine, if you're shy. I'm just curious if this is happening in an area that would surprise me or not.
 
Upchurch said:
Oubliette, out of my own morbid curiosity, where are you located? A state or general region is fine, if you're shy. I'm just curious if this is happening in an area that would surprise me or not.
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Puerto Rico.
 
A Christian Sceptic said:
You could also just send an anonymous letter to HR.

My hunch is you're probably not the only one uncomfortable with that situation.
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I think this is the best piece of advise given in this thread.

If an anonymous letter takes care of the situation, no one even needs to know that you were the one who had the problem with it.
 
When they finish the prayer, say "Wait, I'm not done." Close your eyes again, bow your head, mumble a bit. If they interrupt, tell them again that you're not done. Keep this up for as long as you can. If they insist on putting a stop to it, ask them, "Are you trying to tell me that I have to conform to what prayer you think is appropriate?!"
 
Just to let you know it could be worse, my ex holds bible study at his office every day. He owns the company.
 
If they ask you why aren't you praying, tell them you are waiting to go home to pray to Thor and Odin. Hey, I figure if you are going to believe in a God, might as well be a kick-a$$ one like Thor :)

In all seriousness, the question you ask is difficult. On the one hand, if you tell them you don't believe in God you might be ostracized, or they might look for ways to "fire" you. That is, if your boss is a devout christian, or whatever. I would send an anonymoys letter to a district manager, divison manager, etc and see what happens.
 
I would occasionally volunteer with a prayer of my own: "Dear Lord, please grant us the ability to teleport. Amen."
 
A Christian Sceptic said:
You could also just send an anonymous letter to HR.

My hunch is you're probably not the only one uncomfortable with that situation.
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Great advice.

I've mostly done like Foster Zygote has and just stood while they got it over with.

If you want to be a bit more obvious you could walk far away while they did it. Perhaps another or two would join you. Personally, I wouldn't care and if the others found it important to them wouldn't say anything about it (after all, the work is certainly good). But if you're really uncomfortable, I agree with the more proactive advice others have given.
 
Sorry.

All of my advice would leave you with your dignity and without a job.

Religious people suck.
 
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