Religion at work shouldn't be a total taboo

+ why people spread false rumors ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Top headlines

Lead story

There are topics most people tiptoe around at the office – or if your colleagues don’t, perhaps you really wish they did. Take politics. With tension mounting ahead of the election, some people’s mindset is that it’s best not to tackle the subject head-on with co-workers while you’re on the clock.

Another classic example of what not to discuss in “polite company” is religion. Of course, conversations about faith can take all kinds of shapes, and some are clearly out of bounds: proselytizing, for example, or criticizing someone’s beliefs. But at times, completely avoiding religion can actually create its own challenges and discomfort, write researchers Chris Scheitle of West Virginia University, Denise Daniels of Wheaton College and Elaine Ecklund of Rice.

The trio spent five years analyzing data from workers across the United States and found that people from minority faiths – such as Hindus, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims – were far more likely to say they felt pressured to hide their faith at work. Silence about religion’s role in the workplace can also discourage employees from getting the religious accommodations they’re legally entitled to, like time off for religious observance.

“While we recognize the challenges when it comes to addressing individuals’ faith in the workplace, proactively engaging in conversations about the appropriate role of religion at work is better for workers and workplaces,” they write.

[ Our most interesting science stories each week. Sign up for our weekly Science Editors’ Picks newsletter. ]

Molly Jackson

Religion and Ethics Editor

Many offices make a point to celebrate diversity, but what does that look like when it comes to faith? FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images

Religion in the workplace is tricky – but employers and employees both lose when it becomes a total taboo

Christopher P. Scheitle, West Virginia University; Denise Daniels, Wheaton College (Illinois); Elaine Howard Ecklund, Rice University

Workers from minority religious traditions in the US tend to be more affected by restrictions about bringing up faith at the office.

Ethics + Religion
The ‘Courage Tour’ is attempting to get Christians to vote for Trump − and focused on defeating ‘demons’ Michael E. Heyes, Lycoming College The ‘Courage Tour,’ a religio-political rally, is going around battleground states. It is focused on defeating Democrats, but also on defeating ‘demonic forces.’

Science + Technology

Fighting antibiotic resistance at the source – using machine learning to identify bacterial resistance genes and the drugs to block them

Abdullahi Tunde Aborode, Mississippi State University

By analyzing the resistance genes and proteins of E. coli, researchers can optimize treatments to address both current and future antimicrobial resistance.
Simple science summaries written by AI help people understand research and trust scientists

David Markowitz, Michigan State University

Scientists use jargon and complicated language to describe their work. Regular folks ‘get it’ more when descriptions are simpler – and think better of the researchers themselves.

Environment + Energy
Time to freak out? How the existential terror of hurricanes can fuel climate change denial Jamie Goldenberg, University of South Florida; Emily P. Courtney, University of South Florida; Joshua Hart, Union College Terror management theory explores the lengths our minds will go to to deny existential threats. Psychologists explain what that can mean for climate denial.

Education

Scholar’s new rap album seeks to turn the tables on the ‘masters’ from the Old South

A.D. Carson, University of Virginia

Should a rap album be counted as a scholarly work? We asked a scholar who makes hip-hop and hit the recording studio to earn his Ph.D.
What the presidential candidates have done − and where they stand − on education

Robert Shand, American University

One candidate has gone after for-profit colleges. The other has tried to loosen restrictions. What else does the record show about what Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have done on education?

Economy + Business
People with blindness and low vision are squeezed by high costs of living − new research Zachary Morris, Stony Brook University (The State University of New York) About 1 in 4 of the people with blindness or low vision who were surveyed said they spent less on food to be able to afford expenses associated with their disability.

Election 2024

Nationalism is not patriotism: 3 insights from Orwell about Trump and the 2024 election

Mark Satta, Wayne State University

George Orwell, who wrote about war, totalitarianism, nationalism and patriotism in the 1940s, would have had a lot to say about Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric.
Why vote for Harris or Trump? A cheat sheet on the candidates’ records, why their supporters like them and why picking one or the other makes sense

Amy Lieberman, The Conversation

While Harris and Trump diverge on many key policy issues, they find common ground in other areas.
Misinformation is more than just bad facts: How and why people spread rumors is key to understanding how false information travels and takes root

Kate Starbird, University of Washington; Stephen Prochaska, University of Washington

Spreading rumors is human nature. It’s a way people try to make sense of a messy world. In the age of social media and disinformation campaigns, it’s also how people can be misled.
Abortion and marijuana ballot measures may bring out Florida Democrats, but the GOP has 1M more active voters in the Sunshine State

Daniel A. Smith, University of Florida

The question is how many inactive voters will come out.

Arts + Culture
6 reasons why people enjoy horror movies Shane Rogers, Edith Cowan University; Coltan Scrivner, Arizona State University; Shannon Muir, Edith Cowan University Horror movies allow us to confront our deepest fears through the safety of make-believe.

Trending on site
Why do people still back Trump, after everything? 5 things to understand about MAGA supporters’ thinking As more Americans go ‘no contact’ with their parents, they live out a dilemma at the heart of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ Making a Snickers bar is a complex science − a candy engineer explains how to build the airy nougat and chewy caramel of this Halloween favorite

Today's graphic 📈

A bar graph showing the ages of buildings in Florida. Most units in Florida are aging and require some type of upkeep. Close to 1 million units are 30 years or older, and fewer than 50,000 buildings are 10 years or younger.

From the story, Florida’s new condo laws recognize the total price of living on the beach

More of The Conversation

Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails:

• Weekly Highlights • Science Editors' Picks
• Giving Today [New!]
• This Week in Religion • Politics Weekly
• Global Perspectives • Global Economy & Business

Follow us on social media:

• Bluesky • Mastodon
• Threads • Nostr
• LinkedIn • Instagram
• Facebook • Or get a daily text from us
About The Conversation
We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you.
Donate now to support research-based journalism

Religion at work shouldn't be a total taboo

Ethics + Religion

Science + Technology

Environment + Energy

Education

Economy + Business

Election 2024

Arts + Culture

Trending on site

Today's graphic 📈

More of The Conversation

About The Conversation

Older messages

You Might Also Like