Boss caught me discussing the cards during lunch

[bladeraven]

Ugh..had to share this with ya'll...was at work and during lunch a coworker wanted me to do a reading so I did...and another coworker decided, hey she'll get her reading done to...so we're sitting there and talking and my cards and book was out and my boss came by and was not happy...

He pretty much freaked is actually a better term...and kept telling me..put them away put them away...uhm okay...so I did.

I was so rattled the rest of the day after lunch...I told the ladies..sorry but if you want me to read...I'll just do it after work somewhere else and not during lunch anymore....

[Threase]

Aww that sucks... why'd he freak out? Is he religious or what?

[bladeraven]

He's VERY hardcore Christian...I'm a Christian to but...if I walked on someone with the Koran..I wouldn't freak...Ironically...it's no big deal when I had my bible laying out front of everyone...but I had a Tarot deck and a book explaining their purpose and he freaks....

I'm 30 hours short on my Anthropology degree and I was fixing to tell him..this was part of an assignment...what is he going to do then...PLUS it was AT LUNCH...

[Tarbh Nathroch]

It was lunch you were not on the clock, your time so your boss can bite it.

Man I wish I had something more intelligent to say.

Your excuse seems ok if you want to make excuses. It will most likely make life at work easier.

[bladeraven]

I was just basically irked...It's okay to leave my bible WIDE open to offend every religion in that building...but I can't discuss anthropology or the history/reason of the Tarot...meanwhile...all day I hear them talk about boats ...sigh...It was one of those..okay that was stupid..he's hardcore, yet makes light jokes about well..not so Christian things and I'm hunch quietly at lunch discussing this is why I chose Anthropology and do a reading for the curious...

[Threase]

He's VERY hardcore Christian...I'm a Christian to but...if I walked on someone with the Koran..I wouldn't freak...Ironically...it's no big deal when I had my bible laying out front of everyone...but I had a Tarot deck and a book explaining their purpose and he freaks....

I'm 30 hours short on my Anthropology degree and I was fixing to tell him..this was part of an assignment...what is he going to do then...PLUS it was AT LUNCH...

That's total bull, it sucks that you have such a closed-minded boss... I would have told him to screw off because you were on your own time, but then again... with a boss like that, I wouldn't want to work there anyways... again, that sucks, hope you feel better about it soon...

[bladeraven]

It just really really rattled me...particularly when he kept insisting I put it away put it away...I was thinking uhm..wahtever...btw ..I'm also vietnamese..I guess I can't talk about Vietnamese New Year....He's described as a company man...but uhm..wouldn't be surprised there are a few Muslims, Jews or even Pagans walking aroudn the building..and it bugged me more when I thought...You know what..having my bible WIDE OPEN..would have offended people more....

You know what...come to think of it..they even have flyers up for Bible Study....I must be the only Christian to complain about Bibles being wide open and Bible Study being advertised at work..LOL

[Mab]

actually, whether you were "on the clock" or not, you were in the office, so your boss can tell you to stop & make it stick. I'd suggest just moving your tarot readings & discussions to a small conference room or a break room with a door.

[bladeraven]

*nod* it was a one time thing...funny thing..he has had no issue with me studying my bible out in the open....and yet there have been a few times...when the guys are out and about talkig about Islam or porn...*roll eyes*...

He's a very dedicated Christian..I respect that..I'm a Christian..but he also knew my major was in Anthropology...

[bladeraven]

if he says anything about it tomorrow, I'm going to tell him...my coworker found out my degree was in anthropology, I took a Folklore class and a class called Magic, Witchcraft and superstition, I told her about my tarot deck and how it interplay and she wanted to see them...I waited till lunch...and showed them to her...oh well...

[bladeraven]

as an afterthought..during a lot of business conversations and even just in passing during work..he would talk about Christian related matters to me..such as turning to the Bible for solace...etc.

You know what...even today...he took the coworker to another room to pray with her...

[Rhianna813]

Clearly you work for a very religous Christian man who is happy to promote and support his religion at work. Your tarot cards upset his comfort zone in a big way. Because he sees very little separation of personal (religious) and professional he has no problem telling you to "put them away". Does he have the right to do this on your lunch break? I have no idea. It does suck for you though! I would hate to work in an environment like that and probably would not. But I live in a super liberal town and give tarot readings to co workers for fun all the time.

I guess you have learned where your boss stands on tarot cards and you can either challenge him on it or continue to share your interest with co-workers outside the office.

Best wishes!

Rhianna

[SacredWithin]

He's VERY hardcore Christian...I'm a Christian to but...if I walked on someone with the Koran..I wouldn't freak...Ironically...it's no big deal when I had my bible laying out front of everyone...but I had a Tarot deck and a book explaining their purpose and he freaks....

I'm 30 hours short on my Anthropology degree and I was fixing to tell him..this was part of an assignment...what is he going to do then...PLUS it was AT LUNCH...

You're boss needs to get out more. That's ridiculous. Did you get a warning or anything like that? And also, what are the rules on religion in your workplace?

[silverstard]

as an afterthought..during a lot of business conversations and even just in passing during work..he would talk about Christian related matters to me..such as turning to the Bible for solace...etc.

You know what...even today...he took the coworker to another room to pray with her...

I think I would be looking for another line of work after I saw that... I would find that highly offensive and not conducive to the work place (unless said place was a Christian church where it is appropriate to pray together).

Now don't get me wrong - I have religious co-workers, and when one of them found out my brother is leaving for Iraq, she said she'd keep him in her prayers - that doesn't bother me. It's a comment made out of concern and goodwill and after the comment was made, that was the end of it. I am not in the habit of turning down someone's good energies if they are willing to offer them in the first place :tongueout However, when I hear about a boss and co-worker praying during work hours and at the work place, it just raises my hackles.

(sorry for my rant...)

I'm sorry you had that incident with your boss, I hope all goes well in the future for you! :hahugh:

[bladeraven]

I told my coworkers to just continue to contact me outside of work..what really made me upset is that he had no problem with me studying my bible..today however was different...lunch time again...and this time I'm writing notes while reading my bible and openly and clearly EATING..

He comes in and gets upset that I'm not working (during lunch??) My co-worked jumped to my defense and went...she's on her lunch break...he told me it was high priority to get a job done..I told him..no problem..I'm almost done with lunch and the person who has the information I need is gone for her lunch...basically, I can't do anything on our lunch break...he left..I resume eating and 2 minutes later..he pokes over the cube and goes...You have to make it YOUR priority...I just looked at him with a mouthful of chicken...literally...I should have tried talking to him then.

My coworker got P.O.!!! She went...he's after you for yesterday....it was obvious to everyone...

I overheard him tell someone..I can't believe she is goofing off and reading her Bible...and they went..it's lunch time....everyone else is gone for lunch...what do you want her to do on HER LUNCH BREAK, you can't tell her what to read??

My immediate supervisor made sure I was okay...kept asking if I was alright (when I tackled the really not so important project...removing sheets of paper from a stack of printouts) and if I needed a break, etc...I told him, "I'm fine" soon as it came time to leave for home..I just quickly grabbed my stuff and left FAST...sorry.....

It's okay for me to read my bible out in the open...for him to openly pray with another co-worker and yet he walks in me talking to another co-worker DURING lunch about tarot and he gets upset!!!

She went...he can't tell you what to do when your off the clock...then she pointed out a fellow cube mate next door...who sleeps during work hours...even the vp has talked the manager (don't worry..they aren't having an affair...he's 25, she's 50, I'm 31) about her....

Oh man...he got several people pretty ticked off...even my coworker.

[Hazel witchazel]

Ugh..had to share this with ya'll...was at work and during lunch a coworker wanted me to do a reading so I did...and another coworker decided, hey she'll get her reading done to...so we're sitting there and talking and my cards and book was out and my boss came by and was not happy...

He pretty much freaked is actually a better term...and kept telling me..put them away put them away...uhm okay...so I did.

I was so rattled the rest of the day after lunch...I told the ladies..sorry but if you want me to read...I'll just do it after work somewhere else and not during lunch anymore....

Hi bladeraven
Hmm your experience is not totally uncommon. Its a shame but there is an elite old fashioned hardcore element in christianity that totally miss the big message of love and acceptance and get hung up on what were probually roman bye laws. Its probually not just christianity though where this occurs it happens in all belief systems i guess where some fanatics get obssessed with rule and ritual and lose the sight of the main point. Though all things said most people do have a broader outlook.
There are examples in the bible of people going to clairvoyants, king solomon (i think) consulted a fortune teller before going into battle.
I had quite a religous upbringing so have seen both sides and it still amazes me how some people get so strung out by the smallest of things.

blessings

Hazel witchazel

:halohead: