My Christian HOD......
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Â…got sacked by the company today.
Most of you here may not remember, but sometime back, I made a few posts here seeking help to manage my anger at my (then) newly appointed Head of Department (HOD).
This HOD is by all accounts, a hardcore Christian. On her first day of work and during a one-to-one-get-to-know-you session, she asked about by religion and then started to evangelize. She also freely distributed evangelical materials in the office (I work for a multinational profit-making company that has no religious affiliation whatsoever). During departmental lunches, she would lead us through prayer sessions before commencing the meal. Whatever business discussion I have with her would inadvertently regress to a “What-Jesus-Would-Have-Done” talk.
What tipped the scale is that she came to my office after I returned from a business meeting overseas and started to “exorcise” (in the name of the "Father”) the evil spirits I supposedly brought back with me, paying ‘special’ attention to a small Matreiya statuette I place unobtrusively behind me.
It got to a point where I got down to drafting an anonymous letter of complaint to my ChairmanÂ….. However, compassion got the better of me at the last minute and I do not wish to see her lose her job because of her genuine, albeit mis-, belief. I tore up that letter and felt ashamed to have submitted to my anger and drafted that letter in the first place.
Looking back, other than the HOD’s inclination to proselytize and “bear fruit” for her “Lord”, she is not actually a bad boss. She is not above delegating responsibilities, and she generally let me do my job without any hindrance. Why was she sacked? Politics? Karma? I am not sure. I am not sufficiently high up on the organizational hierarchy to be privy to such information.
However, I am glad my compassion overpowered my anger, for I would never have forgiven myself if by my actions, she is to lose her job. No one deserved such a fate, even for one who blatantly insulted my religion.
I wish to thank the moderators and other contributors in this forum for their help and counseling. -
Try understanding office politics. Second, get your facts right about the christian religion as protestants and catholics are 2 very different factions.Originally posted by Beyond Religion:Â…got sacked by the company today.
Most of you here may not remember, but sometime back, I made a few posts here seeking help to manage my anger at my (then) newly appointed Head of Department (HOD).
This HOD is by all accounts, a hardcore Christian. On her first day of work and during a one-to-one-get-to-know-you session, she asked about by religion and then started to evangelize. She also freely distributed evangelical materials in the office (I work for a multinational profit-making company that has no religious affiliation whatsoever). During departmental lunches, she would lead us through prayer sessions before commencing the meal. Whatever business discussion I have with her would inadvertently regress to a “What-Jesus-Would-Have-Done” talk.
What tipped the scale is that she came to my office after I returned from a business meeting overseas and started to “exorcise” (in the name of the "Father”) the evil spirits I supposedly brought back with me, paying ‘special’ attention to a small Matreiya statuette I place unobtrusively behind me.
It got to a point where I got down to drafting an anonymous letter of complaint to my ChairmanÂ….. However, compassion got the better of me at the last minute and I do not wish to see her lose her job because of her genuine, albeit mis-, belief. I tore up that letter and felt ashamed to have submitted to my anger and drafted that letter in the first place.
Looking back, other than the HOD’s inclination to proselytize and “bear fruit” for her “Lord”, she is not actually a bad boss. She is not above delegating responsibilities, and she generally let me do my job without any hindrance. Why was she sacked? Politics? Karma? I am not sure. I am not sufficiently high up on the organizational hierarchy to be privy to such information.
However, I am glad my compassion overpowered my anger, for I would never have forgiven myself if by my actions, she is to lose her job. No one deserved such a fate, even for one who blatantly insulted my religion.
I wish to thank the moderators and other contributors in this forum for their help and counseling. -
Its unbecoming of course to evangelise during office hours, but then, shouldnt you also discuss with the Christians about this matter too? See how they can help you also?
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What sort of help do you realistically expect from Christians on this matter?Originally posted by laurence82:, but then, shouldnt you also discuss with the Christians about this matter too? See how they can help you also? -
have you tried?Originally posted by Beyond Religion:What sort of help do you realistically expect from Christians on this matter? -
I have, with predictable results. A Christian friend of mine basically tell me to understand and put up with my HOD as it is her duty as a Christian to preach. She then attempted to invite me into her church.....Originally posted by laurence82:have you tried?
On the other hand, the help I get from fellow buddhists on loving-kindness are invaluable to me with regards to this issue.
I am still curious how you think Christians can help me though. -
Let me try.... on the invitation of lau.
In the event if you don't know me... I am a Christian working in an MNC (nonetheless, I don't think I am a super Christian).... If my boss does that, I'd be the first to complain. Basing solely on what you've said, I think you boss fully deserved to be sacked.
She is one of those that I'd classify as being over-zealous to a point where she does not respect the religous rights of others.
If she owns the company, she can dictate whatever she wants from her employees, however because she is also an employee she must abide by the rules of the game. She has no right to involve others by prayer and preaching.
For whatever reason she's sacked, I hope things return to normal for you. I also hope that you'd not judge all christians by the action of one.
....surprise by my answer -
I think she deserves to be sacked. It's like sexual harressment, but in a religious context. Like what CE said, invading into one's religious rights is so wrong in many ways.
We should raise awareness of such actions, for it has psychological consequences. Her subordinates have to battle not only their work, but her constant religious harressments. -
erm ....
what's the reason given for sacking you ? .... -
I think he meant the boss got sackedOriginally posted by Fatum:erm ....
what's the reason given for sacking you ? ....Originally posted by Beyond Religion:Why was she sacked? Politics? Karma? I am not sure. I am not sufficiently high up on the organizational hierarchy to be privy to such information. -
Thanks for sharing.Originally posted by Chin Eng:Let me try.... on the invitation of lau.
In the event if you don't know me... I am a Christian working in an MNC (nonetheless, I don't think I am a super Christian).... If my boss does that, I'd be the first to complain. Basing solely on what you've said, I think you boss fully deserved to be sacked.
She is one of those that I'd classify as being over-zealous to a point where she does not respect the religous rights of others.
If she owns the company, she can dictate whatever she wants from her employees, however because she is also an employee she must abide by the rules of the game. She has no right to involve others by prayer and preaching.
For whatever reason she's sacked, I hope things return to normal for you. I also hope that you'd not judge all christians by the action of one.
....surprise by my answer
For a start, all Christians in my company are junior to her, and it would be unfair of me to expect them to do something which may well be a career-limiting move to help me by talking to the HOD. It might also be a case of conflict of interest for some Christians... I approached a Christian friend outside the company but to no avail too.....
Therefore, the help that you can offer as a Christian would do me very little good in my case...
You see, if I wanted her sacked, I would have completed and sent off the complaint letter myself and have her reported. I probably won't need the help of anyone (Christian or not) for that.... But this is all moot as I do not wish for her to lose her job.
So, if I can't change her, why not change myself? The anger in me and my HOD's zealousness actually have the same source: delusion. I cannot eliminate her delusion, but I can try to eliminate mine.
Thing is, I am used to her antics by the time she was sacked and I have not felt offended by her for a long time. Instead, I felt very sorry for her when she got sackedÂ…. (immediate termination without notice, see her clearing her stuff and vacate her office within an hour after receiving the sack etc. etc.) Rest assured that I certainly won't judge all Christians by the actions of one.
It is however noteworthy that negative actions by a few can actually be very ‘loud’. It is for this reason that our Muslim friends have received such negative publicity… Prior to me meeting my HOD, I have perhaps met only a handful of ‘bad’ Christians…. But these bad apples left a far deeper impression than the multitude of the decent ones I have met.
Cheers -
By the way, if you did not submit the letter, what was the reason she was sacked for?
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Originally posted by Beyond Religion:Therefore, the help that you can offer as a Christian would do me very little good in my case...
actually, I didn't think I helped in anyway aside from giving you the other side of the coin.... I actually empatise with you, and strange as it may sound, I am also glad for you that she's sacked. If my boss is like her, I have issues, even though I am a Christian too!
in retrospect, I would have gone to the top boss over such issues. Aside from the "harassment", there is the issue of "bullying" - which means someone of a more senior position imposing his/her views onto someone junior, so much so that non-compliance is not the alternative because one's advancement depends on the superior.
a person such as you ex-HOD would not last long in the corporate world, unless she sets up her own company and employ like-minded people into the fold. Very sadly, I think she's missing the point in witnessing for God. To a person such as you ex-HOD, I would like to see her doing the same thing to her superior - that would be really fun! -
Tell her to go US join ServiceMaster
i am sure she will feel at home -
Maybe someone else had sent the complaint letterOriginally posted by laurence82:By the way, if you did not submit the letter, what was the reason she was sacked for?
Well think tat tis HOD need to understand tat pple cannot be forced to accept faith. They cannot be persuaded to accept what they do not understand, or what they do not like. That is politics, not religion. -
u sure u not happy about it?
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No I am definitely not happy about the sacking of my HOD... You should see what a sorry sight she is when she is packing up her stuff.... No one would be happy seeing a fellow human suffering like that...Originally posted by Ito_^:u sure u not happy about it?
Career wise, there's no reason for me to be happy either. I am already used to her, and as my direct superior, I have a good (albeit 'religious'
) working relationship with her. On the other hand, I don't know who or how my new boss is going to be like.
Come to think of it, my HOD may have made the mistake of reducing every business discussions to a What-Jesus-Would-Have-Done talk with her superior, who, to the best of my knowledge is not a Christian....
The only thing that I am happy about this whole incident is that I managed to stop myself before I am consumed in anger and sent out that complaint letter. -
Originally posted by Beyond Religion:
ic.. too bad for her. maybe she will learn a lesson this time.
No I am definitely not happy about the sacking of my HOD... You should see what a sorry sight she is when she is packing up her stuff.... No one would be happy seeing a fellow human suffering like that...
Career wise, there's no reason for me to be happy either. I am already used to her, and as my direct superior, I have a good (albeit 'religious' ) working relationship with her. On the other hand, I don't know who or how my new boss is going to be like.
Come to think of it, my HOD may have made the mistake of reducing every business discussions to a What-Jesus-Would-Have-Done talk with [b]her superior, who, to the best of my knowledge is not a Christian....
The only thing that I am happy about this whole incident is that I managed to stop myself before I am consumed in anger and sent out that complaint letter. [/b] -
AMiTuoFo.
It is sad, but I suggest that we forgive, let it go, and move on. Which I think you have already done it. That's something I am impress and should learn from you.
"Yuan1 Jia2 Yi2 Jie3, Bu4 Yi2 Jie1"
Thanks. -
Indeed...Originally posted by concerned_man:AMiTuoFo.
It is sad, but I suggest that we forgive, let it go, and move on. Which I think you have already done it. That's something I am impress and should learn from you.
"Yuan1 Jia2 Yi2 Jie3, Bu4 Yi2 Jie1"
Thanks.
beyond_religion has set a good example for us
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Originally posted by Beyond Religion:
OK, would you rather she not get sacked and you continue to suffer under her harrassment? Think about it.
No I am definitely not happy about the sacking of my HOD... You should see what a sorry sight she is when she is packing up her stuff.... No one would be happy seeing a fellow human suffering like that...
Career wise, there's no reason for me to be happy either. I am already used to her, and as my direct superior, I have a good (albeit 'religious' ) working relationship with her. On the other hand, I don't know who or how my new boss is going to be like.
Come to think of it, my HOD may have made the mistake of reducing every business discussions to a What-Jesus-Would-Have-Done talk with [b]her superior, who, to the best of my knowledge is not a Christian....
The only thing that I am happy about this whole incident is that I managed to stop myself before I am consumed in anger and sent out that complaint letter. [/b]
You are glad that she is sacked. That's the message I derived from you. There is nothing wrong with that. It is all for the better.
If you still insist you are sad, then let me be glad for you that she is sacked. We are all better off without such characters around. If it were me I would have submitted the letter with my name boldly printed on it. I experienced the same humilitation when I was a primary five student during Health Education class. The teacher probably talked about the subject 10% of the time, the rest dedicated to her Christian preaching and criticism of other religions. Till today I regret not doing anything about it. -
In sec sch i made a pamphlet (it was an assignment) about wicca, and my teacher who was christian spent 1 hour talking about satanic possessions.
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Originally posted by Cenarious:In sec sch i made a pamphlet (it was an assignment) about wicca, and my teacher who was christian spent 1 hour talking about satanic possessions.
See how easily the mind links this to that -
You should have asked your teacher to submit a report about satanic possessions to MOE and ask what they think.Originally posted by Cenarious:In sec sch i made a pamphlet (it was an assignment) about wicca, and my teacher who was christian spent 1 hour talking about satanic possessions. -
This is a common issue for a evangelist, when preaching, they like to criticize other religion, for this case, calling bodhisatva a evil spirit.Originally posted by Beyond Religion:What tipped the scale is that she came to my office after I returned from a business meeting overseas and started to “exorcise” (in the name of the "Father”) the evil spirits I supposedly brought back with me, paying ‘special’ attention to a small Matreiya statuette I place unobtrusively behind me.
If she has defame the triple gems before, I am sure being sacked is not the only suffering that she has to take.
Sometimes I also lose temper and almost want to do something stupid. lol.
It then reminds me of how compassionate is ksitigharba bodhisatva. In hell, there are countless number of beings which can be hundred times more evil and terrible than anyone we ever see in our life. And yet ksitigharba bodhisatva still treat them with compassion, guide them and save them until one day when the hell is empty.
Compare to his great vow, what kind of little suffering I have now.