not sure what action to take

[Phoenix Of Destiny]

i attend a group at guidance center thats for people with ptsd,depression,social anxiety disorder and the like.. we talk usually about different things on how to cope with are problems or to seek advice. last dozen or so weeks a member has been bringing up religion a lot which has made me and another member uncomfortable to the point where we're considering leaving the group so we talked to the girl who runs it,selects topics, makes rules for the group,ect. it was making us uncomfortable cause the guy kept telling us to find god and to get saved and to pray she told us she WONT do anything that it's is rights to say what he wants.

so last week me and the other member brought up are religious views when the guy started it and the girl who runs it basically told us to shut up or leave cause are view were offensive im buddhist and the other member is aethist. i looked all over the net and since its a public guidance center that i dont think it can legally do that. so tommorow im going to talk to the head person of the place and see if anything can be done. if i dont get anything there i might contact a lawyer to see if i have any legal actions i can take...

anyone have any advice on what i should do or say to the person? im not really good with words and get kinda nervous

[HangingInTheBalance]

If the person that runs the group has defended his right to discuss religion when it made others feel uncomfortable then you have a right to discuss your views without being chastised for it! The group is an open place for things to be discussed and the treatment you have received is unjustified. I would approach the person that runs the group when they are alone or make an appt away from the group and put across your points calmly. I, like you, get nervous and don't like confrontation. In situations like this I have written down bullet points and taken them with me. It's kept me calmer and I've remembered everything I wanted to say. Hope this helps a little :)

[talaiporia]

It's a hard one. Personally, I am religious, and that has helped me. But if you don't belief in God, forcing that belief on someone is horrible, and it's not at all helpful.

Unless it was a religious-support-group, they've got no right to enforce a religious undercurrent, and I think you have every right to complain. Frankly though, if the head of the place and/or management don't listen, maybe you'd be better off either going to a new group, or starting up your own.

[tiptoes]

Whilst I respect everyone's right to there own religious beliefs I find it very uncomfortable when try to force their views upon me or tell me I am wrong for having the belief system I have (I am some where between agnostic and atheist).

Have you tried politely shutting him down something along the lines of "I respect your opinion, but your religious beliefs and mine differ. I am happy with my religious beliefs and I would appreciate it if you kept religion out of any further replies to me."

Is it feasible for you to go to any other groups? Not that I think you should have to move it, it just might be easier than getting someone to change thier ways.

[Phoenix Of Destiny]

not a religious group at all. the girl who orcastrates who got chose to run it by the guidance center just is religious she got introuble before for handing out the serenity prayer to group. now she just let this one guy talk about it constantly...

if nothing happens with the people in charge ill just goto the board who provides there funding and complain and start a petition or something..

there no other groups in the area to help with these problems and it sucks cause i i been going to the grip over a year now and im being forced out by this moron who has no respect for others in the group.

as for talking to him that might not be wise the guy has some violent tendencys and is pretty bonkers from i seen... not scared of him i just dont want to endanger my future job with a fight or whatever

[Isoverity]

Well you have to pick and chose your battles. Offhand this doesn't sound like a great group so I don't see a point in getting a lawyer just to try and score some kind of points in an argument nobody will care about in the near future. Personally I would probably research the religious points until I knew them better than the preachy person and then driven him nuts with them. Types like that don't mind opposition but when you know their playbook better than they do it wigs them out.

[Phoenix Of Destiny]

update well the guy has found out i been complaining about him so has been making some rather off color comments towards me which got the attention of the girl who runs it and he got kicked from it. but not before saying he would have payback and which in response i just started laughing.. so looks like the moron ended up doing himself in