This bothers me: Walton College to Establish Center in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace

[sinkingfeeling]

http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/15000.htm

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Through a $2 million gift from the Tyson Family Foundation and Tyson Foods Inc., the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is establishing the Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace.

Judith A. Neal has been appointed the first director of the proposed Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. The $2 million gift was matched from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation in the University of Arkansas Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, creating a $4 million endowment for the proposed center. The center will focus on curriculum development; outreach programs to business, churches and civic organizations; and research program support. Neal reports to Don Bland, Walton College senior managing director of outreach.

Walton College Dean Dan Worrell said, “Faith and spirituality are very important, yet underdeveloped dimensions of diversity in the workplace. The Walton College is very grateful to John Tyson for helping us become a top school in this emerging discipline, and we believe that Judith Neal is the right person to lead this effort. There is tremendous interest in this area of inquiry not only in academia but also in the business community.”

[ropi]

1. I'd like to hear what the department of relgious studies

at the University has to say about this and what are the qualifications of the Director?

[tsuki]

2. It boggles the mind. I am speechless. nt

[Stevenmarc]

3. Oh I can't wait to see the courses

If God can micromanage, so can you

Keep your workforce compliant through Christ

Pray your way out of Chapter 11

[get the red out]

4. It is fine

As long as they support people that have a different faith, or none at all, having a place in the workplace. How would they approach a Wiccan? How would they discuss Atheists? What would the "outreach" be to someone who has their own spiritual path without desiring any connection to organized religion? Those are questions that should be asked about this center.

What are the motives? Inclusion or exclusion? The University of Arkansas is a public institution, will this center support the inclusive mission of a publicly funded educational institution?

I need to look more into what this emerging discipline is supposed to accomplish; before it shows up on a campus near me! :scared: I would think the workplace is the last place people should be discussing religion.

[county worker]

7. Just don't do it and you don't have to ask how.

[ellacott]

5. Will these classes be prerequisites?

If not I don't see a problem with it. It was financed through a private gift and it doesn't look like they are mandating anyone take any of their courses.

If it does become mandatory I would have a problem with it for existing students.

[TlalocW]

6. So it's a chicken company getting involved in religion at a college

Will its main focus then be Santeria?

TlalocW

[babylonsister]

8. Not any college-it's a Wal-Mart college!

Just a guess, judging from the name.

[jsamuel]

9. Yes, the Waltons (Wal-Mart) and Tyson are big donators to the University of Arkansas

Our Football stadium was built with their money. The business school was build with their money. They are both based in NW Arkansas next to the University of Arkansas.

However, the University of Arkansas is also home to the Clinton School of Public Service.

Here is the Young Democrats blog at the UofA:

http://uayd.blogspot.com

[Rob H.]

10. The two most outwardly-religious people at my workplace

are also two of the most unreasonable, irrational, selfish, small-minded, backstabbing, gossipy people I've ever met. Just sayin'.

[Dogtown]

11. They continue to marginalize themselves

MOST Americans that are Xian at all are Sunday Xians that don't want to be prayed at 24/7 anymore than atheists do.