Is Ramadan socially acceptable?

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

The muslim month of fasting as about to begin

Ramadan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've noticed the practicing coleagues often show fatigue and take more time off during this festival, thus putting pressure on others to cover for them so that the work is done properly.

I wonder if any of you have experienced this?

Also should we in the enlightened west allow this archiac practice to contine to disrupt commerce?

[Cephus]

I think anyone who wants to practice their religious beliefs should be able to so long as it doesn't interfere with their responsibilities elsewhere. If the above employee worked for me, they would be disciplined for calling in sick and not holding up their fair share of the load regardless of their religious beliefs. I hired an employee, not a zealot. The same goes for anyone who doesn't want to work on certain days of the week, but I simply wouldn't hire anyone who refused to work on Sundays, if I did something that needed Sunday coverage.

[Milton Bradley]

Hmmm, religions causing people to be ill, and miss work.


Here I thought that was the case to discriminate against people who took drugs.


Don't Catholics, and Jews have religious fasts as well?

[SoylentGreen]

Should you put so much emphasis on making money. Perhaps the enlightened west should go out an smell the roses occasionally

[grandpa]

Quote by: SoylentGreen Should you put so much emphasis on making money. Perhaps the enlightened west should go out an smell the roses occasionally

Ah, but making money is its own religion.

Grandpa h.

[another day]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel The muslim month of fasting as about to begin Ramadan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I've noticed the practicing coleagues often show fatigue and take more time off during this festival, thus putting pressure on others to cover for them so that the work is done properly. I wonder if any of you have experienced this? Also should we in the enlightened west allow this archiac practice to contine to disrupt commerce?

ooooooo, god forbid something were to disrupt the west's commerce. :rolleyes:

[Gods_Mercenary]

Very well, but we have to make sure all those crash dieters, not to mention the obese people, (both things that cause fatigue) carry out their lifestyles in a way that suits our productivity.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel The muslim month of fasting as about to begin Ramadan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I've noticed the practicing coleagues often show fatigue and take more time off during this festival, thus putting pressure on others to cover for them so that the work is done properly. I wonder if any of you have experienced this? Also should we in the enlightened west allow this archiac practice to contine to disrupt commerce?

First of all, Wikipedia is never an acceptable source of information. Second, in America the free exercise of religion is absolute and the government is prohibited from passing any law that interferes with it. As for whether it's socially acceptable, that's entirely irrelevant. Muslims don't need your damned approval to fast during the daylight hours for a month.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Quote by: Chancellor First of all, Wikipedia is never an acceptable source of information. Second, in America the free exercise of religion is absolute and the government is prohibited from passing any law that interferes with it. As for whether it's socially acceptable, that's entirely irrelevant. Muslims don't need your damned approval to fast during the daylight hours for a month.

Chancellor I do not consider laws need passing, employment laws already in place should enable an employer to optimise their workforce when any person, no matter creed or colour, fails to perform adequately or responsibly.

This form of fasting is self inflicted injury on a number of participants (in my opinion). The consequences of which should be looked upon as a social dilema and thus discouraged by those of us who suffer for the sake of these archiac misguided and irrelevant festivals

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Very well, but we have to make sure all those crash dieters, not to mention the obese people, (both things that cause fatigue) carry out their lifestyles in a way that suits our productivity.

Gods_Mercenary how correct you are, those slackers should be treated with equal disdain

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel Chancellor I do not consider laws need passing, employment laws already in place should enable an employer to optimise their workforce when any person, no matter creed or colour, fails to perform adequately or responsibly. This form of fasting is self inflicted injury on a number of participants (in my opinion). The consequences of which should be looked upon as a social dilema and thus discouraged by those of us who suffer for the sake of these archiac misguided and irrelevant festivals

First of all, fasting is not an injury at all and, in fact, can be beneficial. Second, it's the employer's loss if he is unwilling to provide reasonable accommodation to his employees for religious observances (there is nothing that goes on during Rhamadan that requires someone to take off from work for the month and the fasting is only during the daylight hours).

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel Chancellor I do not consider laws need passing, employment laws already in place should enable an employer to optimise their workforce when any person, no matter creed or colour, fails to perform adequately or responsibly. This form of fasting is self inflicted injury on a number of participants (in my opinion). The consequences of which should be looked upon as a social dilema and thus discouraged by those of us who suffer for the sake of these archiac misguided and irrelevant festivals

Well, to be fair, I beleive there are a number of medical conditions that can be helped, or cured by fasting, so it's not entirely an archaic pursuit.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Milton Bradley Well, to be fair, I beleive there are a number of medical conditions that can be helped, or cured by fasting, so it's not entirely an archaic pursuit.

Like the 12 hours of fasting required before getting blood work done or before having surgery.

[Cephus]

Quote by: Chancellor First of all, Wikipedia is never an acceptable source of information. Second, in America the free exercise of religion is absolute and the government is prohibited from passing any law that interferes with it. As for whether it's socially acceptable, that's entirely irrelevant. Muslims don't need your damned approval to fast during the daylight hours for a month.

And that's why the Mormons get to have multiple wives... oh wait a minute... the government has passed many laws restricting religious activities. You are right that Muslims can fast any time they want, but they are still responsible for the consequences of their actions, just like everyone else should be.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Cephus And that's why the Mormons get to have multiple wives... oh wait a minute... the government has passed many laws restricting religious activities.

Yes, the government passed numerous unconstitutional laws.

You are right that Muslims can fast any time they want, but they are still responsible for the consequences of their actions, just like everyone else should be.

There are no consequences to anyone else if a Muslim fasts.

[Cephus]

Quote by: Chancellor Yes, the government passed numerous unconstitutional laws.

Unless the Supreme Court finds them unconstitutional, then no, they haven't.

There are no consequences to anyone else if a Muslim fasts.

If fasting makes them ill and unable to work, then it impacts their job, that's just one example.

[Matt W]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel The muslim month of fasting as about to begin Ramadan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I've noticed the practicing coleagues often show fatigue and take more time off during this festival, thus putting pressure on others to cover for them so that the work is done properly. I wonder if any of you have experienced this? Also should we in the enlightened west allow this archiac practice to contine to disrupt commerce?

I've experienced colleagues fasting, and yes, the odd day off might be taken, but no more than any other colleagues in any other month.

Hell, why not work 7 days a week, 24-7, in order to ensure the smooth flow of commerce? :rolleyes:

[phoenix_fire]

I was thinking about how ridiculous the proposition of penalizing someone for religious fasting was when I realized that there is already a precedent for it in the market. When women take off work for pregnancies, it can often result either in a loss of their previous job or a cut in hours and pay afterward. Employers cite the inconvenience and inefficiency caused by that particular situation in order to penalize employees. So while I think that what amounts to penalizing someone because of religion is wrong, I can certainly see how it can be done.

[Fangrim]

Quote by: Chancellor First of all, Wikipedia is never an acceptable source of information.

Wikipedia is perfectly acceptable for what it's supposed to do: tell you a little about the subject, with mostly common knowledge and citations of other information, and giving you either enough of a basis to go on or providing a jumppad for personal research.
In this instance, all that is required is a general understanding of what Ramadan is. Wikipedia is a fine source for such a context.

Second, in America the free exercise of religion is absolute and the government is prohibited from passing any law that interferes with it.

The United States government has the obligation to promote the general welfare. If one religious practice disrupts that welfare, the government has a case for taking policy against such disruption.
I don't think Ramadan is so much of a disruption that it warrants policy though. It's inconsequential, or at the least, its few adverse effects (if any, since I've conducted no study on the economic impact of fasting) do not create the need for state-interested policies.

[tinybear]

Now I know why I can't possibly be a Muslim. I love food too much.