Culture of Spirituality

1 October 2009 | Email

Dear Jane:

The Bureau of Workplace Interruptions (BWI) would like to extend the opportunity for you to experience a culture of spirituality. If you have ten co-workers, this will work out great. If you have less, you have have to divide each task evenly among them. Your task is to confess to at least one co-worker how you have violated one of the Ten Commandments.

As far as the listing of the Commandments, we will use the traditional Jewish method. As far as the interpretation of the Commandments, we will open them up to the general Judeo-Christian tradition.

I. “I am Yahweh your God.” If you believe in another god or no god at all, this is an easy confession. If you have ever doubted the existence of God, then maybe that should be your confession. If nothing else, if you did not know that “the LORD” meant “YHWH” or “Yahweh”, confess that.

II. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Whether you literally worship another god, or perhaps you’d rather stay home and watch the game rather than go to church, whatever you put before God can be viewed as a violation of this command.

III. “Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy God in vain.” “Oh, my God!”, or “Jesus Christ!”, or any variation will satisfy.

IV. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” The Sabbath is on Saturday, but Christian tradition usually applies this to Sunday. Either way, if you went to work, mowed the lawn, whatever on either of these days, you are a sinner.

V. “Honor thy father and thy mother.” If you’ve talked back to your parents, forgotten a birthday, shown any disrespect, there is your dishonor.

VI. “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” Jesus taught that hating someone was killing in your heart. Do you hate anyone?

VII. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Jesus taught that lusting after someone who wasn’t your own was committing adultery in your heart.

VIII. “Thou shalt not steal.” Come on. You must have taken an office supply or something.

IX. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” In essence, lying.

X. “Thou shalt not covet….” Basically, are you envious of others?

Good luck in your quest. Please, don’t feel judged by me; I’m an atheist. We would like to hear back from you, though, to see if this has had any impact on the dynamics of your work-relationships.

Regards,

Agent J