Overview
The workplace is one of the most common places for people to encounter people of different religions and cultures. Religious beliefs and practices can affect how people interact with others, approach their work, and make professional, economic and social choices. The professions are diverse, and each is related to religion in unique ways.
As workplaces grow more diverse and interaction becomes more global, there is a need for greater knowledge of the role religion plays in the professional realm.
A 2004 survey of more than 400 professionals by the Center on Religion & the Professions found that more than 95 percent had experienced some conflict between their professional practice and their personal faith, or that of the public they serve. The survey queried lawyers, social workers, educators, journalists, physicians and nurses, among others. Most said they were not adequately trained to handle religious differences. More than two-thirds said they are expected to know about and consider religious differences in their practice, while fewer than one-third believe they were adequately trained to prepare them for that responsibility. Resources such as those created and provided by the Center on Religion & the Professions equip professionals and citizens with greater understanding of religion’s influence on numerous professions. Whether it is education , law, health professions, journalism, social work, or others, that knowledge improves the quality of work and service.