The Business Professional and Religion

By Dér Stépanos Dingilian, Ph.D. © 1999

‘Newsweek’ magazine featured its cover story on November 1, 1999 as "Religion in the Workplace: The growing presence of spirituality in Corporate America." For many of us this appears as a positive step towards recognizing that the presence, guidance and empowerment of God in our career and business relationships makes a difference for the better. As much as this Newsweek article and this whole movement appears to be a positive step towards a "more spiritual life," there are also some very important pitfalls that need to be recognized. Therefore, below we will provide a brief historical perspective and then look at both the advantages and the potential pitfalls of this phenomenon.

Historical Perspective – The article points out that persons in the workplace have become very interested in spirituality as a means to help solve difficult business decisions. Actually this is nothing new. If we consider the letters of St. Paul, they are generally directed to communities that are established in major business centers such as Corinth and Ephesus, not to mention Rome. It is in the major business centers that merchants from various parts of the world, cultures and religions gathered to exchange not only goods, but also ideas, views and beliefs. Armenia, being both on numerous trade routes as well as having a tradition of successful merchants, had always been at the cutting edge of culture, religion and education because it was a meeting place for all merchants with their views and input. So, it is not a new revelation that business people have known the importance of God in their lives and have shared this faith with others wherever they have gone.

Some Encouraging Aspects of this Movement – Perhaps one of the greatest joys in reading this article and speaking to those who read their Bible at their workplace is seeing how persons are realizing the importance of their spirituality, are returning to appreciating the source of their life and blessings, and finally, are having the courage to express it in public. Generally speaking, those people are not only creative, but also very cooperative. Not only a business relationship is established with such persons, but also a long lasting friendship. This is especially true when working with customers or for managers who share Christian values. Knit-picking arguments do not arise, negotiations proceed smoothly and at the end a "win-win" situation is created for all involved parties. More creative and greater amount of work is accomplished with less stress and in a shorter time period.

The Newsweek article sites corporations such as Xerox, Wal-Mart, Raytheon, Aetna and some of the Silicon Valley leading edge software companies that recognize the importance of spirituality. For example, Wal-Mart is said to have "chaplain" type persons who take care of everything from the spiritual needs of the company workers, to conducting their weddings, and even their funerals. A Chief Executive Officer of a lumber company in the Northeast is also said to consult with his Rabbi when faced with difficult decisions. So persons and companies are realizing that the human being needs "an outside source of power" if it is to face difficult choices and make tough decisions.

Corporations such as Xerox are also coming to realize that lack of creativity is connected to lack of spirituality. So the example is sited where the company spent $400 million on a project to increase the spirituality of a group of their engineers in order that they may produce a new creative product. Xerox was rewarded when this group invented and brought to market a product that has been an extremely profitable best seller for the company.

So, it is encouraging to see that finally persons and corporations are realizing that spirituality is the source of life even in the workplace. Without spirituality, even the most creative mind becomes dull, the best salesperson is silenced by objections, and the most motivating leader finds himself or herself without followers.

Some Worrisome Aspects of this Movement – There are also some worrisome aspects of this movement – why it came about, what it conveys, and where it may lead.

First, the Newsweek article points out that one of the reasons that some corporations decided to embrace this movement is because professionals today spend an average of 40 hours more per month on the job than they did before. As a result, they become more stressed and need greater spiritual strength to persevere. A company recognized that a person with greater spiritual strength works in a more loyal and devoted manner, throwing himself completely into his work. This may be positive for the company and even the professional, but how does it affect the family? Is spirituality here being used to give the person more stamina to work longer in the office and therefore spend less time with own spouse and children? Could this be using ‘divine intervention’ to further break down the family life which has already become so frail in America? There are no quick and simple conclusions. Yet, these questions have to be thought about in order to reach an appropriate balance.

Second, these ‘spiritual movements’ are not necessarily Christian. There are some Christian ones, but they are from all faiths, and some from no mainline religions at all. Some involve meditation techniques that are neither Christian nor that of a major religion, but rather concocted by someone to suit own needs. As a result, the consequences can be very dangerous. In addition, what may sound or appear as ‘Christian spirituality,’ may actually be a dangerous derivative of the faith and even be anti-Christian. The key is realizing that when ‘spirituality’ is mentioned, it is not necessarily ‘Christian spirituality’ that is meant. And worse, it may even be the recipe of a charlatan. So, there is a need to search and determine the source of the ‘spirituality’ that is being presented.

Third, as a long-term effect, there could be some dangerous consequences, namely – the break down of the religious community, – the Church as we know it today. Just imagine, a professional spending 12 to 16 hours a day for five days a week at the office, while receiving spiritual nourishment there. Will that person want to attend Church on Sunday with his or her family? Will that person even have time to attend Church on Sunday? The danger then is that these corporate spiritual groups become a substitute for the Parish and the Church community, resulting in a number of dangerous consequences – less time for family interaction, less community involvement by person and family, and finally, greater individual isolation. The question finally arises: "Who is this ‘spirituality’ serving – God or the corporation?" Again, no general statements can be made. As usual, life is not simply black and white decisions, but mostly gray ones. Therefore, a deeper understanding of this trend is necessary.

In conclusion, how should we view this very important emphasis on spirituality at the workplace in the United States? The Newsweek article gives this perspective: "The clashes (between the different views) split along the same lines the country does. On one side of the divide are evangelical Christians, some of whom want workplace spirituality to focus on a conservative message about Jesus Christ and who think New Age efforts are demonic. On the other are those who fear the movement is a conspiracy to proselytize everyone into thinking alike. Somewhere in between are the skeptics who think it’s yet another one of management’s fads, exploiting people’s faith to make another dollar."

We like to add a further perspective to that of Newsweek. Whether successful executives in their Board offices or simple workers board in their offices, it is apparent that the consensus is that without intervention from a power outside of the human being, mankind cannot be creative, productive or run a business entity. Mankind needs God! This is a very welcomed complete shift from the perspective three hundred years ago, mostly during the Renaissance period where it was repeatedly affirmed that mankind does not need God! This total shift is a true blessing for us who recognize the importance of faith and spirituality. It is also an opportunity for us to realize the blessings we are given through our Faith and an additional reason and impetuous to pass our faith unto the next generation.

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