Comments on: How Do You Deal with Workplace Proselytizing?

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:58:15 +0000

I actually work for a company which has a stated corporate objective of “Honor God in All You Do.” Safe to say, as an Atheist I won’t be working my way up the ladder.

By: Tim D.

Tim D. — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:52:32 +0000

Hah! How weird is this? That’s my sister that owns that coffee shop….

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:22:24 +0000

I’m with Tin, except, I would have crumpled it up and thrown it in the garbage in full view of the customer – all with a cheerful, friendly smile on my face. Then I would have sincerely wished the gentleman a great day, and said, “next, please.”

By: pyramus

pyramus — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:41:19 +0000

There’s no point in getting all wound up over workplace proselytizing if it stops at that. They hand you a tract, you thank them politely, they leave, you throw it in the garbage (or laugh at it with your co-workers). You do not want to get into an argument about religion with a customer, particularly in a public place: that’s the very definition of a no-win situation. (If they try to discuss it, you can say, “I’m sorry, but I’m not allowed to talk about politics or religion while I’m on the clock.”)

I once had a customer hand me a tract that was, with remarkable specificity, written for customers to give to retail workers. I think it went something like, “Thanks for giving me good customer service: now let me give you something in return–the GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE!” Only more subtly, I guess.

By: MH

MH — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:27:43 +0000

I have a weakness for nutty proselytizing. The crazier the tract the more I like them. So in that situation I would read the track and hope it measured up to the best I’ve read.

As Patrick said, Chick Tracts are the gold standard in nuts. Back in the early 90’s I got handed “Fugitive Pope” which actually exceeded a Chick tract for mental instability. I wish I kept that one.

By: llewelly

llewelly — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:51:16 +0000

(I would guess they’re not as common in Utah, since most people “spreading the word” are Mormon?).

I saw a lot of chick tracts lying around in Salt Lake City during the 1980s. Haven’t seen any in the wild anywhere on the Wasatch Front since.

By: Spork

Spork — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:15:03 +0000

You are such a doormat, Hemant. If we, as atheists, say we don’t want to be subjected to prayer in the public square, we’re labeled as militant and aggressive. If this guy shoves his religion in someone’s face, he’s being harmless in your eyes?

So, one of your suggestions is to lie? Really? You have so many questions about ethical dilemmas and moral quandaries, that you actually suggested telling a falsehood as a strategy?

Grow a backbone, man!

By: Tin

Tin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:19:07 +0000

I’d put a big smile and say, “Why, thank you very much, and have a great day.” As soon as he leaves, I’d dump it in the trash.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:58:14 +0000

i’ve had a customer who was delighted upon the revelation that we shared the same name and took advantage of the divine connection to hand me an invitation to join a biblical thanksgiving shindigg on campus. i recognized the crazy glint in her eye and responded with a “no thanks, i’m not interested” and the complementary ‘i think you’re cuckoo, now bye-bye’ grin. in my experience, proselytizers have responded well to polite rejection. however, i think i should start a repository of clever comebacks — the buddhist one and “i’m not superstitious” are pretty good.

By: Lyz

Lyz — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:31:23 +0000

At least he gave you a few quarters first. Too often in the coffeeshops I’ve worked at, someone will put a tract such as this IN the tip jar as if we can use god to eat and put gas in our cars. Yet another action that goes in the list (book?) of “deplorable coffee shop acts.”