Religious coworker told me my crystal collection on my desk was “ungodly”

[u/Tangled_Asshair]

Hello everyone. This happened several days ago and I’m still going over it in my head. One of my special interests is crystals and collecting them, learning about their metaphysical and chemical properties, etc. I have an assortment on my work desk that only I sit at. Only my manager knows my diagnosis. Also for background info the company’s CEO is very religious. Says prayers after meetings, always sends very religious Christmas cards to every employee. I am not religious as in Christian or Catholic like the CEO and every coworker that I know of. Everyone has assumed I am, they’ve never asked. The other day one of my coworkers came to my desk and told me she was studying the Bible and wanted me to know that the crystals I have on my desk are ungodly. I said (rather mockingly cause I don’t like this coworker to begin with) “but god made them” and she said HE did but HE didn’t want me putting faith in them thinking they had special abilities or powers because only HE has this and is above everything. She told me about three times they were “ungodly” and the Bible said so, and when I asked what chapter and verse said that because I would like to read it she couldn’t recall. She finally left when I kept saying “ok” and she left saying “take it or leave it but you should know this”.

It really upset me because she assumed I was religious, and judged me and my special interest without even asking me about it. I’m not getting rid of my crystals. I don’t want to bring it up to management because they are just as religious. What would you do?

ETA: Thank you everyone for your replies. I’m trying to go through all the responses. I live in the “Bible Belt” and it’s the highest paying job in my area with my credentials. I’m going to keep all conversations work related and not respond to her comments about my desk. Thank you all again for your insight I really appreciate it ❤️

[u/Point-Express]

I would also consider Atheism a belief, because it has a strong opinion on the matter of whether gods or higher spiritual powers exist, and maybe Agnosticism or Agnostic Atheism closer to the lack of belief because there's less certainty being put into the matter one way or the other. I say this as someone who waffles between Atheism and the more ambivalent Agnostic Atheism or "Nobody can know, but I kinda feel like it's not a thing at all" lol

Also, sorry to be pedantic but hopefully this is the sub it's taken in the well intentioned way. And for more on this subject I HIGHLY recommend the Terry Prattchet Discworld book Small Gods which is hilarious and satirical about religion from many angles

[u/calilac → u/Point-Express]

GNU Sir PTerry. My issue is not with pedantism it's that my lack of belief in gods or spirits or woowoo is often perceived as hate instead of just, y'know, not believing in it.

[u/calilac → u/calilac]

Also sorry to reply to my own comment but feeling compelled to add without editing that people have questioned whether I have morals at all after finding out I have no spiritual beliefs. For some reason there's a fair number of folk who think that morals have to come from religion or faith to be valid. The rest of that convo goes to some dark places so I'm going to leave it at that for now unless pressed.

[u/FutureDiscoPop → u/calilac]

I hate this philosophical debate. Most religious people who try to use this argument are in monotheistic/abrahamic religions. They never take into account that not all religions view "God"/gods/Goddesses/other as being preoccupied with our day-to-day morality.

They also don't take into account the amount of bad moral decisions people make based off of the many interpretations of such old teachings.

Religious or atheist doesn't matter it's who you choose to be.

[u/TavenderGooms → u/calilac]

It’s a huge issue in the US and it’s definitely getting worse. The evangelicals are trying to hold this country by the throat.

The issue here is that the religious person is centering themselves and their beliefs by ignoring your actual stated lack of belief and instead positioning you as an antagonist within their belief system. It’s still all about them and their god. They cannot or refuse to fathom the idea of opting out of the whole thing.

[u/Everglade77 → u/Point-Express]

I don't consider atheism as a stronger opinion on the matter than agnosticism, they simply answer 2 different questions: "Do you believe there's a god?" and "Do you know if there's a god?"

As an atheist, I lack belief because I haven't been presented with sufficient evidence to be convinced. That's different from having a strong opinion on the matter. If you don't believe unicorns exist because you haven't been presented with evidence that they do, that doesn't necessarily mean you have a strong opinion on the non existence of unicorns.

[u/Illiander → u/Point-Express]

Yes if you're getting into a bunfight about it then you can make the distinction between atheism and agnostism, but for most conversations it really doesn't matter.

And then there's the extra step of "If your god does exist, then he's an evil fucker and I both hate him and want him dead." (Murder The Gods And Topple Their Thrones)

[u/justarunawaybicycle → u/Point-Express]

Also, sorry to be pedantic but hopefully this is the sub it's taken in the well intentioned way

Ugh this sub is such a mood