Religious extremist - delusive preaching in office !!!

jayn-16 · 02-28-2008, 04:10 AM

Hi everybody,
We have a guy in our office who is a religious extremist and member of a "cult-like" organization. He is preaching things that are completely false and controversial and some of my friends have started believing him. They have started changing there lifestyle according to what he says. Although I am of the same religion and very open-minded, this is really irritating me.

I have tried explaining them that what they are doing is ridiculous. Since then my friends have stopped talking about these subjects in front of me and are acting weirdly. But I know they still follow him.

I have considered confronting the religious guy but he is a good conversationalist. Some of his principles also challenge the work of prominent scientists. For example the theory of evolution by Darwin, he has his own theory about it - [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] by some Michael Cremo.

Need help !!! What do I do to get my old friends back ??

amure · 02-28-2008, 04:20 AM

i despise people with that kind of mentality...

religion on its own is ok, as long as people keep it to themselfs.

i have little patients for people of the sort. i dont know how you couldnt have snapped at him by now lol

**greensleeves** · 02-28-2008, 04:49 AM

The more you push or try to convince your friends, the more they're going to resist you. Ignore it, they're entitled to their own beliefs, whether or not you agree with them. If he's discussing this with other staff members during work hours (not during lunch or breaks), you could complain to management or your HR dept., but other than that there's not much else you can do.

BeStrongBeHappy · 02-28-2008, 08:44 AM

Many companies have policies against preaching/pushing religions and/or trying to sell personal products to other employees in the workplace. You could try talking to your HR dept. to get him to stop. It is taking time away from work activities for personal gain.

But if they are doing this on their own time outside work, there is nothing you can do. People are entitled to their own opinions.

If the guy is really off base, they may realize it eventually and stop. But it is really hard to argue religion and politics and could interfere with the friendship. Just stop talking religion with them and relate to them in a friendly normal matter, and they may come back to you as friends.

midnightrambler · 02-28-2008, 09:13 AM

start preaching a different thing.....scientology in the work place

lana111 · 03-01-2008, 07:00 PM

well im not sure how to get your friends back, but you should def say something to a boss/head at work.

we have a very religious person in my office, thankfully her office is no where near mine. she has been talked to about this a few times. not bc of her beliefs but bc of her photocopying materials and playing music loudly at work, the materials and music were both religious btw.

SweetSmilingYeti · 03-01-2008, 10:08 PM

Oh I live in the South so you can BET I get those at least once a week. There is no theory out there that disproves evolution (bah first of evolution is not on big concept but consists of so many concepts I think it would be hard to disprove ALL of them) or there would be so much media on that. What is he saying? I don't "preach" (if that is even the right word) at my school but when religious nut jobs start I usually win.

"If we did not evolve from apes, then where did we come from?" Human
Devolution is author Michael A. Cremo's definitive answer to this question. FIRST OF ALL, That quote says A LOT about Cremo. Apes? Come on. What is he? Some preacher that has no clue about how evolution works? let alone the evolution of man?

Aside from that, I think (since you are in the work place) telling your boss should be your first priority.

PeaceIsWithin · 03-02-2008, 02:30 AM

you could always play devil's advocate until he gets tired of answering questions that have no real answer....lol

**greensleeves** · 03-02-2008, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeaceIsWithin

you could always play devil's advocate until he gets tired of answering questions that have no real answer....lol

I like that idea

. Bombard him.

jayn-16 · 03-05-2008, 01:50 PM

Thank you everybody !!! Shows that there's still sanity left in this world

I cannot complain to HR coz he is a nice friendly guy and does his work properly (He thinks God has purposely put him there). I have stopped convincing my friends about all this. But I just gifted one of them a compilation of biographies of some of the greatest scientists. Its a good book and I'm sure it will turn him around.

I also have prepared a list of questions to bombard him with and armed myself with scientific facts which can prove him wrong. I dont want a full-blown argument, but a debate will be good to shut him up.

BTW I had to drop him off yesterday and all the way he was chanting something. It was creepy.

Thanks again.

02-28-2008, 04:10 AM	#1
jayn-16 Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Gender: Male Age: 25 Posts: 112	Religious extremist - delusive preaching in office !!! Hi everybody, We have a guy in our office who is a religious extremist and member of a "cult-like" organization. He is preaching things that are completely false and controversial and some of my friends have started believing him. They have started changing there lifestyle according to what he says. Although I am of the same religion and very open-minded, this is really irritating me. I have tried explaining them that what they are doing is ridiculous. Since then my friends have stopped talking about these subjects in front of me and are acting weirdly. But I know they still follow him. I have considered confronting the religious guy but he is a good conversationalist. Some of his principles also challenge the work of prominent scientists. For example the theory of evolution by Darwin, he has his own theory about it - [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] by some Michael Cremo. Need help !!! What do I do to get my old friends back ??

02-28-2008, 04:49 AM	#3
greensleeves Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Gender: Female Posts: 2,941	The more you push or try to convince your friends, the more they're going to resist you. Ignore it, they're entitled to their own beliefs, whether or not you agree with them. If he's discussing this with other staff members during work hours (not during lunch or breaks), you could complain to management or your HR dept., but other than that there's not much else you can do. __________________ Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. Dalai Lama

03-01-2008, 10:08 PM	#7
SweetSmilingYeti Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Land of Submarines Gender: Female Posts: 242	Oh I live in the South so you can BET I get those at least once a week. There is no theory out there that disproves evolution (bah first of evolution is not on big concept but consists of so many concepts I think it would be hard to disprove ALL of them) or there would be so much media on that. What is he saying? I don't "preach" (if that is even the right word) at my school but when religious nut jobs start I usually win. "If we did not evolve from apes, then where did we come from?" Human Devolution is author Michael A. Cremo's definitive answer to this question. FIRST OF ALL, That quote says A LOT about Cremo. Apes? Come on. What is he? Some preacher that has no clue about how evolution works? let alone the evolution of man? Aside from that, I think (since you are in the work place) telling your boss should be your first priority. __________________ If he comes we welcome, If he goes we do not pursue

03-02-2008, 02:30 AM	#8
PeaceIsWithin Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Gender: Male Posts: 48	you could always play devil's advocate until he gets tired of answering questions that have no real answer....lol __________________ Forget about time and just be.

02-28-2008, 04:20 AM	#2
amure Offline Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Age: 17 Posts: 632	i despise people with that kind of mentality... religion on its own is ok, as long as people keep it to themselfs. i have little patients for people of the sort. i dont know how you couldnt have snapped at him by now lol

02-28-2008, 08:44 AM	#4
BeStrongBeHappy Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 7,417	Many companies have policies against preaching/pushing religions and/or trying to sell personal products to other employees in the workplace. You could try talking to your HR dept. to get him to stop. It is taking time away from work activities for personal gain. But if they are doing this on their own time outside work, there is nothing you can do. People are entitled to their own opinions. If the guy is really off base, they may realize it eventually and stop. But it is really hard to argue religion and politics and could interfere with the friendship. Just stop talking religion with them and relate to them in a friendly normal matter, and they may come back to you as friends.

02-28-2008, 09:13 AM	#5
midnightrambler Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio Gender: Male Posts: 4,141	start preaching a different thing.....scientology in the work place

03-01-2008, 07:00 PM	#6
lana111 Offline Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA Gender: Female Posts: 1,177	well im not sure how to get your friends back, but you should def say something to a boss/head at work. we have a very religious person in my office, thankfully her office is no where near mine. she has been talked to about this a few times. not bc of her beliefs but bc of her photocopying materials and playing music loudly at work, the materials and music were both religious btw.

03-05-2008, 01:50 PM	#10
jayn-16 Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Gender: Male Age: 25 Posts: 112	Thank you everybody !!! Shows that there's still sanity left in this world I cannot complain to HR coz he is a nice friendly guy and does his work properly (He thinks God has purposely put him there). I have stopped convincing my friends about all this. But I just gifted one of them a compilation of biographies of some of the greatest scientists. Its a good book and I'm sure it will turn him around. I also have prepared a list of questions to bombard him with and armed myself with scientific facts which can prove him wrong. I dont want a full-blown argument, but a debate will be good to shut him up. BTW I had to drop him off yesterday and all the way he was chanting something. It was creepy. Thanks again.