A difficult diversity question

We’re headed into risky territory. I thought long and hard before deciding to post the following question and my answer instead of keeping them private. As with the issue of Jehovah’s Witnesses and birthdays, it explores an issue related to religion in the workplace – this time with respect to Islam, and with a much harder edge. In the end I decided that if one reader asks, many more share the concern. And, it’s an important, current, and controversial issue. If Advice Line (and Keep the Joint Running) avoid current issues that are important to IT managers because they’re controversial, I might as well stop writing. But: I am going to establish one rule for commentary. You can post any opinion you want to – I’m not going to censor, other than to change patently offensive language. But the only comments I’ll allow are those about how to manage effectively. Advice Line isn’t, and isn’t going to become a forum on the legitimacy of different religions or their practitioners. I’ll ask that you respect that boundary. – Bob Dear Bob … I have a question about diversity in the workplace.  I am fairly knowledgeable about the Islamic religion and would have a hard time accepting Muslims in the workplace and here’s why.  The Muslim religion believes that all other religions (including Christianity) are beneath them and those people can be used by any means necessary as long as it advances Islam.  I could go on and on about how this is accomplished, but that is the bottom line.  It’s all in the Quran.  My problem is dealing with someone who I know is using me to undermine my country and my company to further their beliefs.  How does one support diversity in the workplace when the diverse individual may not be treating you with the same ethical rules you are using? – Concerned citizen Dear Concerned … Your first step is to mentally separate the religion from the congregant. What the book says and how congregants  behave have little or nothing to do with each other in any religion. Your second step is to recognize that the words in any holy book, as printed and translated, are only considered to be an inviolable instruction manual by the fundamentalist sects and denominations of that religion. And not even all of them. Then I’d suggest taking out your Bible to re-read the story of Jericho. A Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist who applied your logic would conclude that sacking and razing a city while slaughtering everyone in it because because they were nonbelievers is something all Jews and Christians consider to be a downright nifty idea. If you’re a Christian, you might take a peek at the Gospels that assert only those who follow Jesus will be saved, and at the history of Christianity. Many Christian denominations include the belief that all other religions and denominations are beneath them. At different parts of their history, many have acted on that belief, too – for example, the crusades, the inquisition, and the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. If you’re a member of a non-Christian faith, take a look at your faith’s history and you’ll find equivalent chapters. If you’re an atheist, look at Stalin.   Islam has no monopoly on one true religionism, nor are Muslims any more homogeneous in their interpretations of the Quran than are Jews about the Old Testament, Christians about the New Testament, or Hindus about the Vedas. (The Buddha taught but didn’t write; Buddhists have to argue about whether he said it as well as what he meant if he did.) My last piece of advice is this: If I haven’t changed your thinking on this and you value your career, don’t tell anyone you think this way. If anyone in your company’s management hierarchy becomes aware that you might act on it, your management career will be over, since your employer’s only alternative is to leave itself exposed to expensive and image-damaging litigation. – Bob