Religion at Work
I’ve been pondering this post for many weeks now, because I have come across something that disturbs me, greatly, but putting it into words has not been easy.
I read the Brazen Careerist blog, by Penelope Trunk. I don’t recommend it to many people because her subject matter is often totally NSFW (not suitable for work). But I still read, because I do pick up interesting insights and a lot of food for thought. The blog also gives me a window into the mind of a fairly typical liberal Democrat. And the blog talks a lot about the effects of Asperger’s Syndrome on one’s work life. Since the 2005 wreck left me with a lot of Asperger-like symptoms, I find the information on the blog to be helpful in integrating my somewhat-shattered mind with the minds of those whom I contact at work.
In any case, Ms. Trunk has had a poll running for some months, in which she asks the question “To what extent does your religion determine your choices at work?” The question doesn’t disturb me, but the answers do. Since day one, the results have been almost static, though the number of respondents has climbed from a few hundred to more than two thousand. I know, because I have watched the evolution of the results very carefully.
Here are the results:
Not At All: 61 % ….. (1233)
Not Often: 12 % ….. (240)
Sometimes: 11 % ….. (221)
A Great Deal: 16 % ….. (325)
So of the 2019 people who have responded, seventy-three percent (73 %) say that their religion seldom or never affects their work life. And, as I said, those results have really not changed significantly since the first day of the poll.
Am I the only person who finds this disturbing?
I’m a Protestant Christian, and my religion is quite clear in its expectation that its principles should be carried through all of one’s interactions in life. But I have also had fairly wide exposure to other religious systems. Enough to say that most religious systems are intended to infiltrate the follower’s entire life. Work, play, home … everything.
I understand that not all of Ms. Trunk’s readers will profess any religion — her comments often spark responses from self-described atheists and agnostics, as well as from adherents of belief systems across the entire religious spectrum.
But I find it disturbing that nearly three-quarters of respondents to this poll don’t find their religion dictating their choices at work. I find myself surprised to be in a minority. I really expected different results as I watched this poll evolve. I really expected that the numbers would settle at around 50 / 50. Or even with those influenced by their religion having a slightly greater proportion than those who are not. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this poll’s results “rocked my world.”
While I have a nodding acquaintance with many belief systems, I am most knowledgeable about Christianity and Judaism. Both religions teach such principles as not stealing, not lying, not cheating, and fulfilling your agreements. That means that such things as goofing off at work, taking company supplies for personal use, lying to clients or vendors, holding invoices, and the like, are forbidden.
Now, I’m not saying that I am perfect about following these principles, but my imperfection doesn’t negate the fact that the principles are there. When I “take five” and play Solitaire instead of typing the report that’s due, I feel guilty. When I jot down my grocery list on the company-provided steno pad, I feel guilty. My boss isn’t paying me to play Solitaire or plan my shopping, and he certainly didn’t purchase that pad for my personal use. When I get to work a few minutes late, I feel bad because I have broken my agreement with the company to be available to them at a certain time. When my boss says, “Tell him I’m not here,” do I obey and tell the lie, or do I change the wording — essentially disobeying orders — to avoid lying? (After all, “He is not available just now” is not a lie, but it conveys the same message as “He is not here.” But it is also not what my boss told me to say.)
So I find that even though I’m not perfect at following the ideals set down by my religion, it does influence me. I have often replaced a steno pad or stayed late to make up for a tardy arrival, because my religion requires that I not steal time or supplies from my employer. I “disobey” and re-word messages so that I do not have to lie. And I think twice before opening the Solitaire game or jotting down my grocery list. It’s not really a conscious thing, except when I’m resisting the temptation to surf the web instead of compiling reports.
And it disturbs me to think that three-quarters of the people around me don’t have any compunctions at all in this regard. Their religion doesn’t inform their choices. It apparently doesn’t even nag at them when they do something that their religion classes as wrong behaviour. And I am, therefore, left with the question: “What purpose does your religion have, if it’s not influencing your choices in all aspects of your life?”