When I returned to work last week, I noticed this sign in the mailroom, and I’ve been thinking a lot about it.
Of course, I was a little offended, but not enough to really speak up about it. It definitely warranted a slow and dramatic eye roll though.
What’s the point of posting this at work? Is there something going on that I don’t know about? Are people not keeping their private lives, private?
Is there a meaning I’m not seeing? Is there another way to interpret this that isn’t so offensive?
According to Google:
Looking up the definition of faith didn’t help me find a different way to interpret it or apply it to my life.
Maybe the complete trust in someone or something is supposed to be me?
I don’t know. What do you think of this sign? Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad if it didn’t end with “Amen!”
The woo at my work never ceases to amaze me.
Suggestion: print out a copy of exactly the same poster… but where it says “Faith”, put “beer”. Or “whisky”. And pop it up next to the original. 🙂
Faith and five bucks will get you a cup of coffee.
To me, they are saying that faith “helps” in the same sense that an addict might say that heroin “helps”. Maybe so, but not really a healthy way to deal with reality.
“Faith” in what?
Faith in, reliance on whom or what? What is the assumption to be presumed?
😉
Weed doesn’t always take you out of the problem, weed takes you through the problem.
Weed doesn’t always take away the pain, weed gives you the ability to handle the pain.
Weed doesn’t always take you out of the storm, weed calms you in the midst of the storm.
Skin up!
@ chigau: it’s Ohio, so of course they’re talking about the Christian god. The Amen at the end is the biggest clue.
@ Ashes, think carefully through before you speak or act. Be discreet; don’t make yourself a target. Find out who put up the sign–your boss? The owner of the building? Some rando? Who uses the mailroom–the staff or do the clients go through? You might try taking down the sign when nobody’s looking (look for a camera first!) and see what happens. You like this job (mostly).
Threadjack: Ohio Republicans were refusing to put Joe Biden on the ballot unless they in return got to deny the right to abortion. They eventually lost, but that tells you a lot about the mindset of Ohio Republicans. (just one account here: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/28/2242997/-Ohio-GOP-will-only-let-Biden-on-the-ballot-if-they-can-restrict-abortion )
Post the Twain quote, “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.”
Here is a more relevant quote.
Science flies humans to the moon.
Faith flies jets into skyscrapers.
The sign is just fundie xian cliches strung together. Other than as territorial marking, it is meaningless.
“Faith bakes nice cookies, but she needs better recipes for her cakes.”
I’ve had a long debate with myself about what faith is, and when it is useful. If I start with a definition based on some permutation of “belief without a factual basis” then I have to separate faith in the current existence of something from faith in what will happen in the future. My faith that the sun is really a sentient entity is different than my faith that the sun will come up tomorrow. So is faith a useful tool in the kit?
Faith is another way of saying trust.
For example, ordering goods online is a matter of faith, no?
You put your order in and your credit card details (or whatever) and trust the goods will be delivered.
So yes, it is useful, when used judiciously. When warranted.
This is just the religious version of those motivational posters that were popular for a bit. The kind that show a picture of a mountain or something and a word or phrase like “perseverance”. The ones that superficially look like encouragement but mostly just means someone higher up than you wants you to put up with more crap. While probably thinking of it as a mental health expenditure.
I’m not familiar with that faith poster but it seems a bit weak. Others have suggested mind altering chemicals (albeit weak ones) but I don’t think you even need to go that far. Any sufficiently engaging distraction can do the same thing. A good movie or book with a compelling message at the right time can have the same effect.
The Catcher in the Rye has a similar story about getting through troubles and searching for something to lean on when you need support. If I’m remembering correctly the main character has one of his breakthrough moments while talking to a sex worker. And the book arguably has a better message because at the end it’s about getting through problems together.
So this is pretty ridiculous and overly pretentious once you actually think about it. Unfortunately this might open up the possibility of more posters. Don’t be shocked if you find something like the “footsteps” story on a wall somewhere soon.
If you substitute the word “Pizza” for “Faith” it doesn’t change its meaning much and I find it more positive and motivating.