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• 51904
  

  Don't buy the lie Larry. Christianity is just as much a part of our history and founding fathers (therefore government)as the constitution and apple pie, and is the reason our counrty has been blessed and prospered so much in the past.

  Joe Posted June 7, 2008 9:49 AM
• 51866
  

  Religion has no purpose in the workplace. John Adams said it pretty good: "The government of the United States is not in any sense founded upon the Christian religion" Keep religion in church.

  Larry Posted June 6, 2008 11:09 AM
• 50592
  

  leave your faith and religion at the door when you walk into work, and you can have it back after you drive off the work premises.

  religion has NO place at work. no prayer meetings, no flyers, no clubs, etc. work is what you get paid for. if you want to be a religious person then go work in a church.

  your peers most certainly want the pay, promotions, etc. to be based upon merit and not phony appearances of piety.

  Frank Posted May 13, 2008 10:10 PM
• 50471
  

  A lot of people are paranoid! Listen our country was founded on Christianity and also most of our gov instutions. Get over it, it is our heritage and our greatest blessing. Praise God!

  Joe Posted May 12, 2008 1:03 PM
• 48951
  

  In the words of the great American patriot, Thomas Paine..."I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.

  But, lest it should be supposed that I believe in many other things in addition to these, I shall, in the progress of this work, declare the things I do not believe, and my reasons for not believing them. I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

  djb Posted April 20, 2008 8:33 AM
• 48915
  

  It is the duty of a true Christian to act like Jesus Christ did. That's why they're called Christians. He was persecuted and finally crucified on the cross for His words and actions by those who either were unbelievers or who were ashamed of publicly supporting Him. Maybe they were afraid of their own demise; but for whatever reason, they were unwilling to go against the status quo. In the governmental workplace, you talk about movies, theme parks, family, vacations, parties, news events, television etc. Is anyone complaining about these conversations? If not, maybe the complainer's reasons for focusing on the Christian's conversations are the same as those who supported the crucifixion of Jesus. By the way, He rose from the grave and was seen by over 500 people. That's a documented historical fact. Finally, I've not tried to convert a co-worker verbally in over 6 years. I have preformed at work and lived a lifestyle of integrity with a moral purpose that they may emulate if they wish. No one is being forced to listen to another's conversation, so what's the problem?

  Cal Posted April 18, 2008 10:20 PM
• 48749
  

  Good for you Ms. White! I think it is great what you are doing. Keep up the work in His Name....of course working at the IRS and being a Christian could be taxing at times.

  Rod Posted April 17, 2008 10:00 AM
• 47675
  

  There is absolutely no place in the federal working environmnet for the practice of anyones religion on government time or premises. I offer this quote: "The settled opinion here is, that religion is essentially distinct from civil Government, and exempt from its cognizance; that a connection between them is injurious to both;" - James Madison; Letter to Edward Everett, March 18, 1823

  Dan Barrett Posted April 1, 2008 12:24 PM
• 47603
  

  Just unbelievable. The Patrick Henry College is nothing but a front for the Bush/Rove brown shirted right-wing youths (ever heard of Hitlers youth - same thing -different theme). Rove would visit there on occassion to enlist candidates to work as Republican interns with the intent to "Christianize the Federal Government". This just shows you how far the Bushees will go!

  Danny J. Barrett Posted March 31, 2008 6:18 PM
• 44594
  

  How about an ethical society that could include people who through their religion, humanism, or whatever, believe that they need to be conscious of their ideals at work as much as anywhere else? And, as someone in the article said, even more so for public servants. It's easy to forget what's most important in life and work with all the other pressures around us.

  laurel kasson Posted February 28, 2008 9:29 AM
• 43932
  

  Are you kidding me? Why should people have ot know how to "handle people of faith"? Does that mean disagreeing with someone without offending him or her? Does that mean that a "person of faith" is exempted from being told to do his or her job without bringing supernatural beliefs into play? Do you discuss "how to handle people who are professionals" at church? of course not, because people don't go into church and cram a "computer science" agenda down your throat. As a person of faith, you have the right ot believe what you want without fear of persecution. However, people can disagree or thing you are totally full of hot air without violating your basic human rights.

  TJ Posted February 20, 2008 1:48 PM
• 43866
  

  From Bejamin Franklin; "I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father, expects or requires no worship or praise from us, but that He is even infinitely above it." - from Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, 1728.

  Ali Sue Posted February 19, 2008 5:45 PM
• 43682
  

  "employees channel their religious motivations into advancing their agencies' missions and their careers". Religious views HAVE NO PLACE in advancing a government agancies mission. Religion is a personal preference which must be honored by the workplace. Other than than Davey has the correct explanation!

  iggy Posted February 15, 2008 10:34 AM
• 43617
  

  Religion should be kept out of the workplace. It is only a distraction that the employer should NEVER have to deal with. The workplace is not a mosque, church, or synagogue. Employees should be concentrating on their work, and not be paid for praying or anything related to religion while on "company time". If you want to get paid to pray -- become an imam, pastor, priest, deacon, whatever; but leave your ideology at the door when you arrive at work. The workplace doesn't need religious "unions" to hamper and impede organizational performance.

  Frank Posted February 14, 2008 5:18 PM
• 43521
  

  Freedom of religion and freedom from religion, is the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship.

  Davey Posted February 13, 2008 7:59 PM
• 43467
  

  Here is the problem; there are those that think they have the right to convert others to their specific religious belief. This happens and it should not be happening within the Federal work place. I am not of the Christian faith and am tired with those that are constantly trying to get to convert. My family has followed the same religion long before (many milenia) the Chrisitan faith existed and I am happy with my religion. I never ran into this pushing of faith prior to the present George W. Bush administration. Now however, people are trying to convert non Christians at work and this is in fact a violation of Title VII and the first amendment.

  Ali Sue Posted February 12, 2008 4:05 PM
• 43295
  

  "Follow your faith, keep your faith but don't make a big show of it or anything else at work." When people see your achievements at work and ask what's the secret, I humbly answer it's God. What's wrong with it?

  Regarding the 1st amendment comment, I believe the 1st amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... bla bla bla" So what's wrong with professing my faith at work?

  Why Not Posted February 8, 2008 11:47 AM
• 43287
  

  To refresh everyone's memorory: First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedon of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceeably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances".

  It does not say we cannot practice our religion, the government cannot promote one religion to the exclusion of another. They can have a flyer for a bible study class, but someone can also post a flyer for a Koran study class. Neither class is acceptable on government time or property.

  KW Posted February 8, 2008 10:01 AM
• 43231
  

  I was always taught that making a show out of being humble showed that you weren't at all. The same goes for making a big deal out of being honest, or working at your job or only being that way because of your exceeding faith. Most people don't trust someone who pushes those attributes at you be it a politician or co-worker and the more you push them the more resentment you generate that you are showing that you are the only one who has them. People who are secure don't have to shout it from the rooftops. Follow your faith, keep your faith but don't make a big show of it or anything else at work.

  Faithful too Posted February 7, 2008 2:55 PM
• 43225
  

  In this article, Ms. Lexie White of the IRS states, "When I am at work, I want people to perceive that the reason I give 110 percent is because I'm a Christian."

  No doubt folks will be thrilled to learn that you and others are motivated by your personal beliefs to do a good job.

  One wonders, though, might another motivation be more appropo? Specifically, as a civil servant, you took an oath. The oath, found in 5 U.S.C. 3331 requires:

  "An individual [...] elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: 'I [insert your name] do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.'"

  Similarly, the Constitution's Article IV, Clause 3 requires an oath of Members of Congress and government officers:

  "The Senators and Representatives...and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution."

  So, religious motivation is a nice supplemental impetus to good work. However, the oath one takes upon entering government service should be the primary motivation for doing one's duty. And, critically, should there should be a conflict between one's religious values and one's duties inherent to the oath, one seems obliged to "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." No?

  Kevin R. Kosar Posted February 7, 2008 2:12 PM
• 43205
  

  Please do not violate the first amendment, by pushing a specific religion at the federal work place. It is okay to have beliefs, but it should be handled outside of work.

  Ali Sue Posted February 7, 2008 11:53 AM