How to I get out of this gracefully?

[tailfins]

Tomorrow the team (70% Indian) is having a Diwali feast. After research I dicovered Diwali includes worship of Hindu gods. This is nothing a Christian should have any part of. It's a great team here and I'm well respected with not a single conflict and I want to keep it that way. If it was just a curry meal, I would paste a smile on my face and eat. The Vietnamese guy on the team just doesn't like curry. Maybe he and I can come up with something clever together.

[WiccanLiberal]

If you were to suggest a Christmas pot luck would you expect they would participate? If it is less about the religious aspect and more about the work team being cohesive, you might rethink it. For example, there are always holiday meals at work, many of them for holidays I don't celebrate. I choose to participate on the basis that creating cohesiveness with my fellows is a benefit. Otherwise, if it bothers you, simply say you have other plans for lunch.

[tailfins]

If you were to suggest a Christmas pot luck would you expect they would participate? If it is less about the religious aspect and more about the work team being cohesive, you might rethink it. For example, there are always holiday meals at work, many of them for holidays I don't celebrate. I choose to participate on the basis that creating cohesiveness with my fellows is a benefit. Otherwise, if it bothers you, simply say you have other plans for lunch.

It's so obvious, why didn't I think of that? :2up: Of couse it will be necessary to go somewhere and not eat in the company cafeteria.

[Arbo]

Tomorrow the team (70% Indian) is having a Diwali feast. After research I dicovered Diwali includes worship of Hindu gods. This is nothing a Christian should have any part of. It's a great team here and I'm well respected with not a single conflict and I want to keep it that way. If it was just a curry meal, I would paste a smile on my face and eat. The Vietnamese guy on the team just doesn't like curry. Maybe he and I can come up with something clever together.

Who said because you are eating that you must worship anything? Seems like a major over-reaction on your part.

[Voted4Reagan]

The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of deepavali which translates into "row of lamps".[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Monier-10) Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Demon-11) These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi) feel welcome.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Raat-12) Firecrackers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firecrackers) are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_spirits).[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Firecracker1-13)[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Firecracker2-14)[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Firecracker3-15) During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_sweets) and snacks with family members and friends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Celebrates the triumph of GOOD OVER EVIL..

To answer your question... You wont get out of it gracefully.. Sometimes you should just do something for others if it's in the good spirit of teamwork and brotherhood..

But we know you arent a team player.

And your co-workers probably know it as well...

[tailfins]

The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of deepavali which translates into "row of lamps".[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Monier-10) Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Demon-11) These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi) feel welcome.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Raat-12) Firecrackers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firecrackers) are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_spirits).[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Firecracker1-13)[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Firecracker2-14)[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali#cite_note-Firecracker3-15) During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_sweets) and snacks with family members and friends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Celebrates the triumph of GOOD OVER EVIL..

To answer your question... You wont get out of it gracefully.. Sometimes you should just do something for others if it's in the good spirit of teamwork and brotherhood..

But we know you arent a team player.

And your co-workers probably know it as well...

Fortunately the only no-win person like you left the team back in July. I have plenty of goodwill, building quick utilities that eliminates manual processes. You, and those like you, I just ignore and make no effort because it would be a wasted effort. You would be left doing all your stuff manually. If you did try a top-down ask a manager to assign it to me route, you would be forced to make detailed specifications and any thing left out would be excluded. I know doing anything for you would be a wasted effort because anything I did, regardless of how much effort would be called deficient by you. You're just not worth the bother.

[Voted4Reagan]

Fortunately the only no-win person like you left the team back in July. I have plenty of goodwill, building quick utilities that eliminates manual processes. You, and those like you, I just ignore and make no effort because it would be a wasted effort. You would be left doing all your stuff manually. If you did try a top-down ask a manager to assign it to me route, you would be forced to make detailed specifications and any thing left out would be excluded. I know doing anything for you would be a wasted effort because anything I did, regardless of how much effort would be called deficient by you. You're just not worth the bother.

your disdain and intolerance of others beliefs has been well documented here many times.

this is just more business as usual for you.

dont feign indignity... your among the least tolerant people on this board.so insufferably full of you own self superiority as to make this comical.

suck it up and take one for the team.

[tailfins]

your disdain and intolerance of others beliefs has been well documented here many times.

this is just more business as usual for you.

dont feign indignity... your among the least tolerant people on this board.so insufferably full of you own self superiority as to make this comical.

suck it up and take one for the team.

I can guarantee you I have more tolerance for my Pakistani Muslim neighbor than you do. You're so two-faced!

[Voted4Reagan]

I can guarantee you I have more tolerance for my Pakistani Muslim neighbor than you do. You're so two-faced!

Delusional doesn't even begin to describe you...

I would make an excuse to go to the Divali Celebration... That shows right there that I have more tolerance.

I wouldn't look for an excuse to skip out on it.

[aboutime]

I can guarantee you I have more tolerance for my Pakistani Muslim neighbor than you do. You're so two-faced!


tailfins. Read what you said above. Then...think about it.

Of course you can make such a guarantee. Your Pakistani Muslim neighbor is YOUR neighbor. Therefore. Nobody else on this forum lives near, or close enough to you to call YOUR neighbor THEIR neighbor.
And, since that is the case. How can anyone on this forum...other than you. Have any tolerance for YOUR neighbor???

Think about it. You calling someone else Two faced...just identified yourself as such.

[Voted4Reagan]

tailfins. Read what you said above. Then...think about it.

Of course you can make such a guarantee. Your Pakistani Muslim neighbor is YOUR neighbor. Therefore. Nobody else on this forum lives near, or close enough to you to call YOUR neighbor THEIR neighbor.
And, since that is the case. How can anyone on this forum...other than you. Have any tolerance for YOUR neighbor???

Think about it. You calling someone else Two faced...just identified yourself as such.

My old friend...To me he wouldnt be my PAKISTANI MUSLIM NEIGHBOR..

He would simply be...My Neighbor.

Identifying by ethnic/religious origins and affiliations is the sign of someone that is INTOLERANT.

Tailfins is nothing if not consistent in his disdain for those not like him.

[Abbey Marie]

I can respect tailfins desire to avoid a situation where he feels he is compromising his religious beliefs. But while I do not know for sure, I suspect a luncheon like this isn't much more than an excuse to get together and eat. It is probably no more religious than the current state of Christmas for many Santa-loving nativity-ignoring Christians.

In any event, one's presence at a social gathering does not denote acceptance of others' beliefs. Jesus communed with people of undesirable beliefs and traits of the time. He usually used these as teaching moments.

[Voted4Reagan]

I can respect tailfins desire to avoid a situation where he feels he is compromising his religious beliefs. But while I do not know for sure, I suspect a luncheon like this isn't much more than an excuse to get together and eat. It is probably no more religious than the current state of Christmas for many Santa-loving nativity-ignoring Christians.

In any event, one's presence at a social gathering does not denote acceptance of others' beliefs. Jesus communed with people of undesirable beliefs and traits of the time. He usually used these as teaching moments.

What would Jesus do? Excellent question..

He'd sit down...break bread and enjoy the meal and company.

[DragonStryk72]

Tomorrow the team (70% Indian) is having a Diwali feast. After research I dicovered Diwali includes worship of Hindu gods. This is nothing a Christian should have any part of. It's a great team here and I'm well respected with not a single conflict and I want to keep it that way. If it was just a curry meal, I would paste a smile on my face and eat. The Vietnamese guy on the team just doesn't like curry. Maybe he and I can come up with something clever together.

Actually, you're under no stricture to worship their gods, and hindis are generally accepting of people not being hindi themselves. If they're doing it, then they're inviting you to join in their holy meal, so uh, you're pretty bold facedly insulting them if you just go off and eat by yourself. It's like if you invite your Jewish friends over for Christmas dinner: you're not trying to convert them, and you understand they're all about the Chanukah and will do a Jewish prayer, but you want them to be there for a day that's important to you.

[tailfins]

I can respect tailfins desire to avoid a situation where he feels he is compromising his religious beliefs. But while I do not know for sure, I suspect a luncheon like this isn't much more than an excuse to get together and eat. It is probably no more religious than the current state of Christmas for many Santa-loving nativity-ignoring Christians.

In any event, one's presence at a social gathering does not denote acceptance of others' beliefs. Jesus communed with people of undesirable beliefs and traits of the time. He usually used these as teaching moments.

Spirits are real and are nothing to take lightly. People get themselves into trouble by either/or bringing unclean spirits into their lives or angering God. It has nothing to do with people and everything to do with the spiritual world.

[Abbey Marie]

Spirits are real and are nothing to take lightly. People get themselves into trouble by either/or bringing unclean spirits into their lives or angering God. It has nothing to do with people and everything to do with the spiritual world.

I doubt that eating a meal will bring anything into your life other than some strong-smelling food. Either way, your faith and personal relationship with God should really be enough to shield you.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Psalm 23

[Arbo]

Jesus communed with people of undesirable beliefs and traits of the time. He usually used these as teaching moments.

A point the 'faithful' either ignore or are 'above' doing. Quite a shame as it seems so many of them are very intolerant and need more teaching moments as they have a lot to learn.

[jafar00]

I've been to Diwali celebrations in Malaysia. There is nothing wrong with going for the feast and enjoying time with your colleagues but stepping aside respectfully if they do any of their rituals. If your faith is intact, there is nothing wrong with watching a cultural exchange. I know my life is all the richer for learning about other's beliefs.