It sounds like those co-workers are jerks and that kind of “humor” sure wouldn’t make it a better place to work. Good for the court, and good for Haddonfield for taking it to court.

Hmm. I’m conflicted. Obviously I’m in favor of anything that helps to protect people’s religious rights, but at the same time I do agree that this will probably make at least a few cases of things getting way overblown, when they could have been handled more simply.
God bless.

The funny thing is that this sort of humor ain’t funny. It is a fine and dangerous line when treading the rope theological – you can get hung faster and easier than you can get a laugh. If the remarks are painful, malicious, or simply demeaning they are not ever funny.

The actions of the folks in the police department were at the very least insensitive. Religious humor of the type displayed are not “humorous. Good action by the court, and the Jewish officer who brought it to the attention of the law.

“The attorney representing Haddonfield warned the decision would have a chilling effect. “The court has raised the bar on the hostile work environment — now you can’t even joke in the workplace,” Mario Iavicoli said.”
Ooooh, such drama. The rules are the same as they were before. Just make sure someone can take a joke before you make them the butt of a joke.

Of course unless it is directed at Christians, then it is alright of course even certain so-called clergy will get a laugh and a jab in.

What “so-called clergy”?

Good for NJ. There should be enough funny things to have fun joking about other than peoples sex, ethnicity, and religion.

“Of course unless it is directed at Christians, then it is alright”
You are full of self congratulations and self pity tonight aren’t you? I can’t even imagine something like that happening to a garden variety Christian in the US because the fellow workers would be similar.

nnmns quote: “You are full of self congratulations and self pity tonight aren’t you? I can’t even imagine something like that happening to a garden variety Christian in the US because the fellow workers would be similar.”
Then you certainly must keep your comments concerning Christians hidden at work or in your public life. Are you saying you in this statement you don’t have the nerve to say some of the things you say here in public? I’m just asking.

The co-workers just forgot rule #1. Make sure someone can take the joke before you make them the but of one.

What happened to the good, old days when you could persecute, mock, insult and say all manner of things against Christians, and they rejoiced, were exceedingly glad, and looked forward to their reward in heaven? Those were the days (sigh)….

cknuck when I was working I’d debate anyone about their religion if they brought it up but mostly they didn’t. And mostly I didn’t. And if we did chat about it, it was at lunch not during work. No, I didn’t start arguments about religion with Christians or any others because it’s not fair to fight a one-armed man.

And more to the point picking on someone you work with over anything is a damn poor way to be a good worker and I tried to be a good worker because I thought my job was important.

nnmns quote “I didn’t start arguments about religion with Christians or any others because it’s not fair to fight a one-armed man. ”
Your atheist argument is that strong? When can I see it?

You pretty much have, cknuck. Your religion is based on mythology not evidence (indeed, mythology suspiciously like earlier mythologies in that region), it includes inane ideas like original sin (the creator of this truly incredible universe would set things up so its creatures “created in its image” would, by default, spend an eternity roasting in a hell it made for that purpose?!), and it leads to abominations like the Holocaust and your hatred for homosexuality. I could go on and on but I have other things to do today.

The responses to this article point out the very problem at hand. Too many people take their religion too seriously. On the other hand, other people don’t take their co-workers seriously enough. There is a key difference between “bustin’ somebodies’ chops” and saying or doing something to get them angry.
Faith is part of who you are; religion is what you do as a consequence of faith. Often religion not only works from our strengths, it also seems to highlight our inconsistencies and even rampant silliness. Hence, religion is often the target of humor. Faith, however, is rarely an appropriate subject. “Yo Mama” (and associated topics) jokes can be funny, but making fun of a person’s heritage, especially the mopr tragic aspects of it, hardly ever works. It does not take a genious to sort out the differences, but a does take someone who has an iota of sense and sensibility.

Wow two in a row I think I like jest it is a good day

Christians, at least, should expect to be ridiculed and poked fun at. Look what the world did to Jesus. Should we deceive ourselves that the world will treat us any differently? We have been instructed by God to “arm yourselves likewise”. To a secular society we are the laughing stock of the nation. To the unbeliever, the Word of God is utter foolishness. God sees all of this, and when His wrath is full, enough will be enough. He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Those who do not seek Him have already received their reward. Christian people should draw wisdom from God’s Word about how to conduct themselves in the workplace and all other places, for that matter. We are instructed to be quiet, meek, lowly and humble. We further should not expect a secular government to “protect our rights”. We have been set at liberty to serve the Lord and His people. I give a big Amen to the NJ courts for their ruling. It proves that this entire nation hasn’t turned its heart away from God.

ck,
Be careful, two points of agreement and people are starting to talk! Of course, once they get to the article and comments about the Episcopal Church and homosexuality, they won’t suspect a thing.
C. Mondale wrote, “We are instructed to be quiet, meek, lowly and humble”
I wonder about this. We are told by Micah to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. I am fairly sure you cannot “do justice” in a quiet way. But I do get the lowly (manger-boy Jesus) and the meek are supposed to inherit the earth. But once in a while I get the impulse to just wind it up and let it out. I guess that is why I am a jester in mood and character, if not profession.

C Modale:
“Christians,at least,should expect to be ridiculed and poked fun at.” Why should any religion expect to be ridiculed? And you think that Christians have a monopoly on ridicule? Let’s see…Jews have had a lot of violence against them (Holocaust), Muslims are not the worlds favorite now, since 9/11 and others haven’t escaped.
As to the secular government protection? This country protects religious freedom, but does not have the right to interfer with it or have religion in public schools or public venues.
The court in this case did the correct thing…not allowing religious jokes in the workplace. That is called “protection” from your (our) secular government.
BTW, this country is not a Christian nation…a very good thing. It is one on many religons in this country. NO religion is THE religion. All are equal and deserve the protection of this country’s secular government.

BTW, this country is not a Christian nation…a very good thing
You said it, sister!

“BTW, this country is not a Christian nation”
Actually this country is very much so Christian as much as Israel is Jewish but the difference is we are open to other races, and religions a lot more that other countries and a person of another race, nationality or religion can find a good and equal life here because of the Christian ideals of this country’s forefather and generations before us in that this country has always had groups of believers that believe in justice for all. It’s starting to back fire only because of the hateful nature of some who hate Christians.
Christian literature is all throughout the buildings our forefathers built in Congress and the houses even in the monuments as if they knew one day folk who say “this is not a Christian nation.” They prepared for the lie.

Actually this country is very much so Christian as much as Israel is Jewish
Absolutely not.
Go take a civics class.
Please hurry.

cknuck:
This nation is a nation that is supposed to be run by a SECULAR government. Yes, somebody decided to put”Christian” stuff about in the buildings and monuments, reflecting the times they were built in.
Unfortunately with the current admin in Washington, DC, it could be hard to tell whether this nation remembers that it is a nation that is not “Chirstian”, but diverse. Hopefully that will change. Sad enough that we have to have “In God We Trust” on our currency. Always wondered…..Which God or who’s God. And what branch of what bank do we trust God with?
Anyhow I disagree that we are as Christian as Israel is Jewish.
That welcome is starting to backfire because of the nature of those who hate Christians? Well, let’s see…could the Jerry Falwells and the Dobsons and the Hagees have anything to do with that(in your opinion) growing dislike for said Christians? Could it be that some folks are tired of the in your face views of some Christians? Just some suppositions.

Oh no! NOT THE cHRISTIAN nATION QUESTION AGAIN??!!
I don’t think the African Bishops of the Episcopal church would agree. I am fairly sure no one ran this by the six million Jews and six million muslims. I am quite sure that the many tribes and nations of Indigenous Americans have not quite signed onto this. There a whole huge bunches of other non-Christians, non-other folks who are likely to chafe at this.
WHY do we HAVE to be cHRISTIAN anyway. Is it not difficult enough simply getting along as Americans?
NOW, if you wan to see someting funny, go to the religious kitsch article in the featured pieces section. I have many of those quirky religious things, like the Hindu Finger pppets, the Bobblehead Jesus, and the Moses action figure. Is this a surprise to anyone who has read my posts? I also have a 12″ tall, bubblegum pink, Jesus “eight ball” statue; Buddah with a cell phone and coffee mug; and God as presented in Monty Python & the Holy Grail. NOW THAT STUFF IS FUNNY!

jestrfyl:
I have gone to the religious kitsch article and it has some very unique pieces! And it is absolutely NO surprise that you have some of those items. I would have been surprised if you DIDN’T have some (or all) of them!
Yes, it would be wonderful if we all could just get along as Americans. How anyone can honestly think this is a “Christian” nation has always baffled me. Too many other folks out there who follow their beliefs that aren’t necessarily “Christian” and that IMO is one of the many great things about this country…even with the many problems we currently are facing. There has been and always will be problems to deal with…every generation has had them and handled them.

“How anyone can honestly think this is a “Christian” nation has always baffled me.”
Maybe because the founders said it was?” Washington said the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the foundation of America Most of the fifty-five Founding Fathers who worked on the Constitution were members of orthodox Christian churches and many were even evangelical Christians. As early as 1799 a court declared: “By our form of government the Christian religion is the established religion; In 1854, the House Judiciary Committee said: “in this age, there is no substitute for Christianity. Ben Franklin, George Washington and John Adams, to the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court, how our founding fathers felt about the mix of politics and religion. Jefferson had church in the house of rep. Spread the lie all you want but the Christian message is written in the stone buildings and monuments in the capital.

ck:” “Maybe because the founders said it was?” (a Christian nation)
I don’t worship George Washington or the other founders of this country. Were they wise and extremely bright men, who helped start this country? Yes and I have the upmost respect for them, but they were products of their time. They had the wisdom to make a point that religion and government shouldn’t mix, therefore this is not a Christian or Jewish or Muslim or any other religiously run nation. Pulling the quotes out of context didn’t help, sorry. Looks like I’ll continue to “spread the lie” since I know it is the truth. My country’s government doesn’t tell me what I should believe nor does it have the authority to tell me what religion is the “right” and proper one. If indeed this was a Christian nation, we’d be run by a dictatorship complete with an “official” government established religion. It’s not, and for that I’m extremely glad.
BTW, do you think the Native Americans consider this a “Christian” nation. Many were basicly forced to “convert” since they were, after all, Heathans. They were treated like sub-humans. And the immigrants to this country… are they (were they) all “Christian?” No, nor should they have to be. This nation is made up of many religions….not just Christian….an extremely good thing.
And to the point of this article…no one should have to be demeaned because of their religious beliefs, in the workplace of any other place. NJ court did the right thing.

Oh, cknuck, since there are quotes being used:
Thomas Jefferson, 1802 to the Danbury Baptists. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution created a wall of separation between church and the state. Ring any bells?

Pagansis,
Great job, there.
We must forgive him, because he knows not what he’s talking about.

And, as you so correctly pointed out, it’s totally off the point of the column.

pagan quote “If indeed this was a Christian nation, we’d be run by a dictatorship complete with an “official” government established religion.”
Wrong again it is because this nation was founded on Christian principles that it is not an dictatorship. It is not off topic to talk about what this country originally stood for and that it was the founding fathers intentions to escape judges ignoring the wishes of the people. The religion and church they were trying to escape was in Great Britain not here. This country was not founded by Muslims, Jews or Pagans but Christians and for that very reason Muslim, Jews and Pagans are included and free to worship as they may. It took us a while to get here but it is the spirit of Christianity that has brought us here.

Wrong again it is because this nation was founded on Christian principles…This country was not founded by Muslims, Jews or Pagans but Christians
Wrong again…. again.
This country was founded by people trying to escape from religious persecution and from the Church of England. This country most certainly was not exclusively founded by Christians, but go ahead and enjoy your delusion. Clearly facts have no play in your opinion.
And, as reminder, the article was about religious jokes in the workplace – not about what the comments have now made it.

All this lofty religious stuff is great, but…
For the most part our country was founded (as in colonized) by entrepreneurs, adventurers, and licensed explorers. The religious folks came after, and their lofty principles were only part of their rationale. Sure they were being persecuted at home, wherever home was. But they also saw a way to establish a new home and make a few pounds, lira, franks, marks, guilder, or whatever as well.

jest you cannot separate entrepreneurs, adventures or licensed explorers as if they are that they can’t have been Christian. Your determination to eliminate the Christian heritage of the colonization of this country is so bent you slide into compromising the truth.

jest Your determination to eliminate the Christian heritage of the colonization of this country is so bent you slide into compromising the truth.
BU-WA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!!
Hoo, better now.
No, no, wait, still laughing…

cknuck:
I expect there were a few Mulims, Jews, Pagans and other non-Christians in the folks who helped start this country. And you really haven’t convinced me that this is a Christian nation…Jefferson was a Unitarian. BTW, what is the “spirit of Christianity”?

BTW, what is the “spirit of Christianity”?
Whatever cknuck deems it to be.

True, ecl.

ck wrote, “Wrong again it is because this nation was founded on Christian principles that it is not an dictatorship.”
Actually that is only partly true. If we were built on the principles proposed by Paul we would have anticipated Communism by a hundred and some years! If not that, then we would have been guided by the principles of communalism – you know, like all those hippie communes of the 1960′s and 70′s.
No, for the most part – like it or not – religion was as much an after thought then as it is today. A few die-hard religious types came here to found various utopias. But for the most part the Eurpopean colonists were here to grind out some filthy lucre from the fertile loam. The Asians and Africans were not so keen on sharing in these adventures and economic enterprises, but they did not seem to have a choice.
When the New England folks were getting their act together they were actually a Theocracy – and the congregational ministers elected the governor of CT (and here, I am an heir to the congregational traditions and a son of CT – and I turn my back on all this opportunity). Even they realized that Theocracies do not work well.