Dear Ms. Theologian:
There is a woman in my office who is a very conservative, sensitive Christian. For Halloween, she was really bothered by the celebrations. Perhaps it was the slaughter of little animals in the kitchen. Just kidding. Seriously, she was bothered that we had decorations and a party. But for Christmas, she was all over the celebration thing. How can one bring better balance into the work place for celebrating holidays that have a religious base?
-Happy at Halloween
Dear Happy,
This is a good question. It’s also a difficult one.
You cannot change your coworker. You need to respect the fact that she celebrates Christmas and is bothered by Halloween. You can also try to understand this a bit more.
Some conservative Christians are not into pluralism or inclusivism. They’re into exclusivism. (It’s worth noting that most religions have at least one group of folks who think of themselves as having the exclusive rights to the Truth.) Their view is basically this: We got it right in our faith and everyone else is wrong. And not just wrong, but dangerously wrong because they’re partly or completely controlled by demons and/or Satan. Hence, Halloween is not a time to celebrate.
Should you try and change your coworker’s opinion? Absolutely not. You cannot point out that all holidays have pagan roots and that pagans are happy people who love nature and don’t sacrifice human beings. She’s not going to believe you.
It would be wise to develop an office policy involving HR and management and concerned workers that explored these issues. Every workplace is different. You need to consider how the party is celebrated, when it is celebrated (during the workday or not), and what the options are for those who don’t want to attend.
One solution?
Celebrate all holidays with an office sponsor. So if you’re the Halloween sponsor, you plan the office party outside the workday (during lunch or after work). If you’re not the sponsor, you can attend the party or choose not to. The party isn’t a requirement for work.
And, just because I found it amusing, I give you this:
Top Five Things Overheard at Office Holiday Parties
-Ms. Theologian
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