Wearing a cross at work

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9136191/Christians-have-no-right-to-wear-cross-at-work-says-Government.html

Sorry, so annoyed I forgot to blue it.

Annoyed! They wont ban the hijab which is also not a requirement of the Muslim faith! So why should a cross be banned?

Neither is a requirement of the respective religions. I wouldn't be offended by anyone wearing a cross as long as they didn't try to convert me!

Exactly!

This is completely ridiculous, wearing a small symbol of one's faith should not offend anyone. How have things come to this point. Complete erosion of individual freedom, give them an inch and they will take a mile. Mark my words, eventually their will be no individual freedom left.

I agree - not offended - just don't try and indoctrinate me!

How about wearing a cross as a fashion piece as many many people do? Will that be banned also? I have a small Celtic cross that my mother bought me many years ago I wear it regularly but it doesn't have any religious meaning to me its a sentimental piece.

I don't know what goes through their so-called brains. You can extend freedom and tolerance to other religions without denying it to the one that was established here already. Equality works in all directions.

Disestablishing Christianity as a national faith is one thing (not that I am for disestablishment. It is not now compulsory to be Christian and it would be a great upheaval in many areas of national life) but to penalise the home-grown sector against competitors is masochistic self-hatred.

I suppose there could be situations where a so-called 'Christian' might wear a cross to deliberately antagonise work colleagues of a different faith.

Why can't they wear the little fish brooch? Less 'in your face' than a cross.

If anyone sets out to antagonise a colleague by what they wear, how they behave, or whatever, they should be disciplined under Dignity at Work, or whatever employment policy is in place to protect them from being harrassed or bullied. There's no need to specify a cross or any other icon representing someone's beliefs, as long as it is not being pushed at anyone else. We had this with the England flag a while back, as some people thought it could be interpreted as representing the National Front, even though it was in the middle of the World Cup. These nit-pickers obviously have jobs that aren't challenging enough for them, if they've got to go looking for trouble.

I don't think the Government is talking about preventing Christians from wearing a cross; it is simply stating that it is not a human right to wear one. Consequently, if an employer thinks it inappropriate for an employee to wear one – uniform policy, safety issues with jewellery, or whatever – he/she can ask the employee to remove it. It's the same sort of thing as asking an employee meeting the general public to cover a tattoo or to shave off facial hair. There are almost certainly far more employers who don't give a fig about their staff wearing a symbol of Christianity or other religions. I think this is something of a storm in a molehill.

Well said, absent, as always.

Yesterday evening I joined in a family meal out. My granddaughter and her friend (both 20) were wearing bracelets that they bought from T.p...p. L wore an elasticated bangle with pictures of different religious figures and A, her friend, wore a top which had crosses on the front. I didn't think they were attractive - the jewellery and the top, not the girls(!) - but apparently they're quite fashionable at the moment.

Yes absentgrana it is not being banned ...it's just not a right. That doesn't mean that's lots of employers will suddenly 'enforce' a ban ...it will continue to fit in with their current dress code.
Media sensationalism again!

I can't work out what T.p..p is Green. Can you fill in a couple more letters?

Topshop! Got it!.

..er....Top...p? Will that do?

You've got it, jingl - very quick off the mark!

Alright!

Jing. I wondered where you'd got to? Don't remember seeing you last night! We're you there or are you a foggy haze?

I was asleep on the sofa watching tv jeni.

That stonehenge is lovely in the sunshine, but at night it's not for me!!!

We went there in the days when you could just wander around the stones as you pleased. No one taking entrance money either!

I went there then as well. I remember going withe my French exchange partner. She thought it was boring! All she wanted to do was look at clothes shops. We were 14

I get annoyed by these petty arguments - there are young people being stoned to death in Iraq for wearing Western style dress and hairstyles. Women and girls are being murdered in so-called honour killings, or being forced into marriages. HIV/Aids is rife in Africa and could be much reduced by the use of condoms. There are enough really serious problems caused by the use of religion for controlling people, and these storms in teacups just distract from the real issues.
Who cares if someone wants to wear a symbol of their beliefs, as long as it is not contravening health and safety or uniform rules.
It seems to me that some people actively seek martyrdom.

Have I missed something? Are we not a "Christian" country? I am fed up being dictated to by governments who wish to conform to the wants of minorities who choose to come and live in this country then take offence at some of our ways of life and try to change us because "they" take offence. If you choose to settle in this country then you should abide by our ways, just the same as we have to do in other countries. We didn't suddenly decide to wear crosses to offend some people. Nor did we decide to put Christian Symbols on postage stamps at Christmas. ( Remember that argument?) Although I do not wear a cross myself I could never be offended by it because, as a Christian, living in a Christian country, it symbolises some peoples faith. Next they will be asking us to take down crosses on churches etc. I agree with you Greatnan. I am fed up with these petty arguments!!!!