Keep Religion Out of The Office Please

Another colleague has raised my ire whenever she rattles on and on about demons and faith healing, exhorting people not to go for massages and whatnots. She loudly states that if you have a headache or a backache, it means that demons dwell in you. If you walk funny because of a curved spine or something, it's caused by demons. WTF. Her beliefs aren't mine, obviously.

She was sent on a work trip to Cambodia, accompanied by two junior colleagues. When they returned, I went up in flames when I learnt that this colleague talked extensively to the two younger girls about demons in the country. So the two girls were scared like hell throughout, claiming ghosts in the hotel rooms. The root of their worry and paranoia was of course, no thanks to this particular supposedly older and wiser colleague. Hallo, my office travels often. I can't send my girls and boys overseas only to hear this sort of ridiculous conversation in the nights after the work day.

Trust me, I was more than pissed off. I had a talk with said senior colleague and sternly told her that I do not want to hear any more stories about demons from other people who accompany her on such work trips. It is most unbecoming of someone of her age and designation to engage in such discussions in these situations. Where is the professionalism? She knows in no uncertain terms that if necessary, I will flag the situation to the bosses and I will put a stop to her travelling should I hear anything to the tune of demons again. She will do well to keep her beliefs private. Since then, she has wisely kept quiet for the next couple of trips to Cambodia and other countries.

I'm still keeping an eye on her. I don't like all this nonsense going on at the office. It's meant to be as secular and professional as possible. The whole exchange with her gave me the heebie-jeebies. It isn't just about her being religious or spiritual. It's that fanatical glint that I saw which deeply bothers me.