# So a coworker invited me to his bible study group **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963 "2026-01-23T18:08:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/21 "2026-01-24T01:02:38Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > his intentions were good > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > It’s not like he was trying to convert me or anything. I respectfully disagree with both of these statements. I don’t know your co-worker, but I would bet that he knows the HR rules about politics and religion, and felt like they didn’t apply to his invitation. Bad judgment. As for trying to convert you, even if he didn’t, can you say the same for all the other members of the group? My limited experience with people who invite other people into such groups is that some of them will always try to convert you. If you think they are interested in hearing anything about your side of anything, I believe you are doomed to disappointment. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/22 "2026-01-24T04:26:27Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Then he added something interesting: most of the group are based in our London branch, and they come from all sorts of backgrounds: Catholic, Anglican, Greek Orthodox, and several others. O RLY? It would be interesting to hear European perspectives on scripture, not having to suffer through JAYSUS and HAIL FAR, and I get to listen to their cool accents. If you want to find out about different perspectives on scriptures, I think a lot safer way to do that would be to read about them online. You could even start a Dope thread. You’d miss out on the accents; but if you started to realize you were in a minefield, it would be a lot easier to get back out again. And if you really want the accents, I’m sure there’s videos. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/23 "2026-01-24T10:43:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I consider myself a fairly religious person and I would not be caught dead (or alive) accepting such an invitation. I would join a Classical Greek or Classical Hebrew study group, but if you join a Christian scripture discussion group… actually, I can see that, but it had better be serious and not a cult meeting. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/24 "2026-01-24T11:28:11Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I am an atheist. One of my best friends is a Presbyterian minister. We watch movies together with his son and my husband every Monday. Both he and his son have an educational background in film. One of my (virtual) acquaintances from a different message board is also a Presbyterian minister. I’m an atheist, too (or at least, an agnostic) but we’ve had many pleasant conversations, including about accounts I’ve read about the historical Jesus who is pictured as a political revolutionary and not a religious figure at all, and he was completely accepting of that interpretation. His spirituality was much more nuanced than the typical dogmatism of any religion, and I found that extremely admirable. I got the strong impression that his role in life, his concept of the purpose of his ministry, rather than Bible-thumping attempts to convert others to his beliefs, was simply to bring comfort to those who needed comforting. He shined of such virtue that it was almost enough to make me religious again. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/25 "2026-01-24T12:22:41Z")
There are many Christians i might attend a Bible study group with. But u wouldn’t do it with coworkers. That just seems risky. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/26 "2026-01-24T12:36:46Z")
If you’re hostile to religion and have all this mockery in your head about the offer, why would you even consider going? Just to have a laugh at someone who reached out to make a social connection with you? You could be candid and say “thanks, but I’m not a believer and not interested in the Bible at all.” Or if you feel they wouldn’t leave it there, you could simply say “sorry, I have a conflict” and move on. Sometimes in life, if you’re someone who seems worth hanging out with, you’ll get invitations that aren’t interesting. There’s no need to mock someone who’s just trying to include you in something they feel is a good thing. Politely decline and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/27 "2026-01-24T13:30:01Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > You could be candid and say “thanks, but I’m not a believer and not interested in the Bible at all.” Or if you feel they wouldn’t leave it there, you could simply say “sorry, I have a conflict” and move on. Or you could say, “This is something that goes against the rules at work, and you really shouldn’t be doing this at all.” ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/28 "2026-01-24T16:00:47Z")
Bible “study” is a term for Christian worship. I’d bet a few metaphorical dollars that they’ll begin the class with a prayer. No, you won’t be actively converted, but you can pretty well presume that everybody in that group will assume the literal truth of Jesus’ resurrection. If you don’t match that perspective (and I, for one, do not), there’s no good reason to join the group. It’d be like going to a Sherlock Holmes book club knowing that all of the participants think he’s a real person. I guess you could decide to suspend your belief while you were there, but it wouldn’t sit well with your knowledge of the authorship of Arthur Conan Doyle. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/29 "2026-01-24T16:27:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What particular Bible do they study? I am still interested in finding out from the OP what Bible (or Bibles) that wide group of religionists use in that Bible study group. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/30 "2026-01-24T16:31:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Or you could say, “This is something that goes against the rules at work, and you really shouldn’t be doing this at all.” If it’s not on work time, it may not be a violation of work rules. People who work together are allowed to socialize together outside of work. Pressuring a coworker to convert certainly ought to be a violation. But a simple invitation does not cross that line. Like, asking a coworker on a date (if neither of you supervises the other) is allowed at most workplaces. Sexual harassment isn’t. > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > You could be candid and say “thanks, but I’m not a believer and not interested in the Bible at all.” Or if you feel they wouldn’t leave it there, you could simply say “sorry, I have a conflict” and move on. I wouldn’t invent a conflict. I’d just say "thanks, but I’m not interested in joining you for that. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > What I said: “Thanks, but I’m not really a church guy. Sounds interesting though.” That’s fine. But i wouldn’t turn around and then ask to be included after all. I think you work alienating your friendly coworker. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/31 "2026-01-24T16:35:17Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > It’s not like he was trying to convert me or anything. I think he probably was. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/32 "2026-01-24T16:39:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > What particular Bible do they study? > > I am still interested in finding out from the OP what Bible (or Bibles) that wide group of religionists use in that Bible study group. I imagine they each use their own. There’s nothing especially difficult about doing that. As someone mentioned above, differences in translation can be an interesting point for discussion. And everyone knows that different groups have canonized different books. You just need to pick a reading that everyone is interested in. (Jews recognize many of the non-canonical books as Bible-adjacent, for instance. I mean, Jews obviously reject the new testament, and wouldn’t generally join a Christian Bible study group, because the perspective is just too different. But they read stuff that’s not on the Bible, like the story of Hanukkah.) I would expect different Christian groups to have no trouble finding suitable texts to discuss. And it sounds like all the people in that study group are members of liturgical traditions, so they’d have similar takes on how to approach the Bible. But also, if the OP doesn’t already know the answer to this question, there’s no way to find out that’s not super awkward. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/33 "2026-01-24T16:40:18Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > > > It’s not like he was trying to convert me or anything. > > I think he probably was. He might be. But so long as he took “no” for an answer, i don’t think he crossed any lines. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/34 "2026-01-24T16:43:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > He might be. But so long as he took “no” for an answer, i don’t think he crossed any lines. Not even trying to organize this group in the workplace, saying that coworkers have already joined? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/35 "2026-01-24T16:47:20Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But also, if the OP doesn’t already know the answer to this question, there’s no way to find out that’s not super awkward. I really don’t think asking “By the way, what version of the Bible is used?” is that super awkward, if you think that asking a coworker to join a Bible study group is probably o.k. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/36 "2026-01-24T16:48:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I am still interested in finding out from the OP what Bible (or Bibles) that wide group of religionists use in that Bible study group. And I’m still wondering why you think it matters. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/37 "2026-01-24T16:54:16Z")
Then wonder to your heart’s content. It is totally legit to ask if that diverse group of believers is using a common religious text (which might indicate that a particular viewpoint is being studied), or different religious texts followed by people of different religious beliefs (which might lead one to believe that the differences and similarities between them are being discussed). If the OP is still wondering about joining this group, it is a very legitimate question. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/38 "2026-01-24T17:00:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > or different religious texts followed by people of different religious beliefs Then again I ask: by “different religious texts,” do you mean different translations of the Bible? Or what? If this were a book club going to study _The Iliad_ or _War and Peace_, would you be bothered by people reading different translations? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/39 "2026-01-24T17:11:23Z")
That would be more information than the OP is currently posting, that’s for sure. There aren’t many Bible study groups out there that work like book clubs in that, if you went to a book club studying _The Iliad_ and they insisted that the book was a true story that was divinely inspired, you would certainly question that group. The people mentioned in the OP, Catholic, Anglican, Greek Orthodox (and others)-would you say that the different religious texts they follow are merely different translation of the same book? I think it is a disservice to their real differences in text and context to make that claim. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963/40 "2026-01-24T17:21:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Or you could say, “This is something that goes against the rules at work, and you really shouldn’t be doing this at all.” Do you think it’s against the rules for someone to invite their co-worker to an outside-of-work social event? In my 30+ years of employment I’ve never once seen or heard of such a thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-coworker-invited-me-to-his-bible-study-group/1026963.md?page=3)