[jadis]

I am totally down with anyone practicing whatever religion they like- if it makes them happy and it doesn't harm others, than who I am to judge? However, if one more person tries to "save" me (ie- force their religious beliefs on me) I swear I am going to snap.

I work part time at a hotel - the other day, I ended up in one of the staff rooms alone with one of the dishwashers (I am on friendly terms with pretty much everyone, so I usually say hello). All of a sudden, he busts out with "So, what church do you attend on Sundays?" - "Do you believe in the lord Jesus Christ?" - "His word is the only way to salvation"....yadda yadda yadda yadda. I tried to politely tell him that I don't believe in organized religion, and that I am perfectly satisfied with my current belief system. Yet, he persisted- to the point where I was walking away and he was still talking. I am seriously thinking of complaining to his manager, as I have to right to work without being harrassed. Seriously, I go to the staff room to get a coke, and get cornered into a conversation I really was not interested in having, and told that I'm going to hell (which I don't believe in ANYWAY) because I don't accept a religion which I am fundamentally in conflict with.

Apparently this wasn't the first time this has happened- I told the person I was working with, who happens to be one of the supervisors, and he got really peeved because this staff member was already warned about this.

Now, of course I am dreading work tomorrow, as if I have to deal with this person again, it's not going to be pretty.

[mcmama]

I had a problem with this in college during the 70s. I am christian, but at the time was a catholic christian. There were campus crusaders who decided that wasn;t the right type of christian and wanted to save me.

The weird thing is, the whole emphasis is on the "have you been saved" thing. If you said yes, they wanted proof. If you said anything else, they woudn't leave you alone. It made some parts of residential life very difficult. It was their way or else. The Catholic way was not the right way, and if you were attending Mass or the campus interdenominational fellowship or going on retreats other than campus crusade, you were just not saved. If you attended area churches and not the campus crusade, you were not saved. Guess they wanted to supervise my salvation personally! When I graduated, I think the Jewish students were working on a plan to collect all those miniature green new testaments and build a Maccabeean catapult using them as ammo. Seems there was a problem with this kind of witnessing outside the Jewish center on Rosh Hashanah. YOu just couldn;t avoid it. Very bullying.

That's college, but this is a dishwasher. It is really inappropriate in a work environment. He may think that he is doing you a favor, but he has no idea how it affects you.

He is probably not well educated. So he is likely all about his wonderful life and not really thinking about religion in the workplace. He needs to learn the lesson that there is a time and place to witness with the "have you been saved" conversation and work is not it. At work you witness by telling and showing what Jesus has done in your life for you, and leaving it open for others to follow. You don;t corner people and harass them.

He is trying to share something with you but he needs a knock in the head about doing this at work in such an intimidating way. You did the right thing to mention it, and don't dread work. Just be firm and if he bothers you, tell him that the workplace is not the proper place for this discussion, especially when people walk away. You don't have to argue, and if he does, tell him he will be reported.

[JeanLynn81]

I'm all for saving people, but goodness they have to want it! And work is definately not the place for that. I agree with Janet-you did the right thing by reporting it. I'm also thinking that if he has been warned before then obviously he doesn't value his job all that much, because he didn't listen.

I had a friend who was on alot of drugs one night, and claimed he had a conversation with God. Since then he has been super-religious. What's great is he quit the drugs and other bad habits. What's bad is he's hard to tolerate because he's convinced everyone needs saving, that the Lord's work is never easy (i.e. martyrs and saints), and that God wants him to "keep pushing" when someone acts like they don't want to hear him. That just means they are being "influenced by the devil, and its his duty to save them!" (exact words) Don't get me wrong, I love him- I've known him since we were in diapers. I can deal with a little preaching every now and then for that.

Maybe this guy at your work is something like this. If so it probably is best to keep your distance because he won't be easily swayed. Poor you-I understand. And I really hope this issue at your job resolves quickly. Work is icky enough without co-workers who make you uncomfortable!

[twinzplus3]

Hmmmm. . .I have to agree and I think you should report it to his superviser if it happens again. I think the appropriate response would be: "I'm sorry but I am not comfortable talking about this. I feel harassed and if you keep up I will be talking with your supervisor." And then walk away.

[pattiewrites]

Originally Posted by mcmama

I had a problem with this in college during the 70s. I am christian, but at the time was a catholic christian. There were campus crusaders who decided that wasn;t the right type of christian and wanted to save me.

The weird thing is, the whole emphasis is on the "have you been saved" thing. If you said yes, they wanted proof. If you said anything else, they woudn't leave you alone. It made some parts of residential life very difficult. It was their way or else. The Catholic way was not the right way, and if you were attending Mass or the campus interdenominational fellowship or going on retreats other than campus crusade, you were just not saved.

Oh boy, do I know about this! I'm Catholic and when I lived in Florida I dealt with this nonsense all the time. It's actually one of the reasons we moved North. I had a friend that told me that in his Baptist Church the preacher told them they HAD to try to save people at work. He told them to evangelize their co workers. ESPECIALLY if they were Catholics, because we're all going to hell don't ya know. I was infuriated and almost called the preacher to give him a piece of my mind. In the end, I didn't because people this ignorant can't be changed! Engaging them in conversation only makes it worse.

I would tell him you will continue to complain every time he does this. It's completely inappropriate and really just turns people away from Jesus, rather than bringing them closer to Him.

[Jaycobsmom620]

We recently took a trip to Oklahoma City and theres an area there called Bricktown which is on the river and its full of shopping and restraunts and what not and we were there with all 3 kids and EVERY single corner there were people trying to throw flyers at you and pull you to the side to speak with you about stuff like that and it just gets VERY old. I am also a Christian but like the PP said people have to WANT it not to be forced into it so its very annoying when people are trying to cram it down your face.

[Firespice]

If it makes you uncomfortable, and you already talked to the person about not talking to you about it .. then go to your manager. no one should make you dread going to work.

and forcing religion on someone after they asked you not to, is NOT nice.

Good luck
suzie

[mcmama]

I think the problem with this approach (and it does some people some good when they need it) is that it is so broad, and so repetitive. There doesn't seem to be a sense of what to do when the question of "have you been saved" is answered - "Yes, a long long time ago". And it can be very intimidating when the "savers" have fanned out block after block after block and you have to keep dodging them because you got saved 6 blocks ago and they want to do it again and again and again. It seems to be all about body counts.

[MJ7]

I don't agree with the way the dishwasher presented his heart's intention for you to be saved. It sounds like it came across inappropriately but for anyone to suggest there is a time and place for sharing this kind of preaching, I'll bet this man would not see it this way--esspecially coming from someone who is not a Christian (if the manager is in fact not one). To some like this man it might be like seeing a person drowning and suggesting it wasn't the right time or place to save them. I'm not suggesting this guy shouldn't be dealt with, but wanted you to know where he might be coming from. He believes if you were to die at any moment, you would spend eternity in hell. There is no point system I'm aware of in Christianity for leading people to Christ. We do so because of our love for others and our love for our Creator. So while this man's intentions might have been "good" someone really ought to come along side him and help him to understand why others might find it so upsetting.

[MissyChrissy]

Ugh...that's the BIGGEST turnoff of Christianity...their stinkin pushiness. Ok, I believe we were created...and I don't care if you call him "God" or whatever, but don't be following me down the street, knocking on my door, or in any other way harassing me about it. I know where the Churches are. If/when I decide to visit one, it'll be because I was individually, divinely inspired to do so. PEOPLE turn me off to religion.