To begin the session:
Ask the class to try to define the word harassment. After a few members offer definitions, explain that there is a legal definition found in U.S. government documents. Read that definition:
Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (ADA).
Harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Harassment becomes unlawful where 1) enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment, or 2) the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Anti-discrimination laws also prohibit harassment against individuals in retaliation for filing a discrimination charge, testifying, or participating in any way in an investigation, proceeding, or lawsuit under these laws; or opposing employment practices that they reasonably believe discriminate against individuals, in violation of these laws. (Excerpted from https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/harassment.cfm)
Ask the class if they are familiar (either directly or from the reports of others) of cases of workplace harassment. Why is this a serious offense?
Lead into Bible study by saying, “Workplace harassment is nothing new. The Bible tells us of a serious case of harassment that occurred about two and a half millennia ago! Let’s look at what happened when three Jewish men were ordered to participate in “offensive conduct” that was “a condition of continued employment” and then some!
To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:
Download the “Surprising or Expected?” worksheet here. Make copies for all group members.
Distribute the worksheet, making sure each class member has a pen or pencil. Give class members about five minutes to look at these events in Daniel 3 and mark each one as either expected (E) or surprising (S) to them. Stress that there are no right or wrong answers, but they should be ready to give a reason for each response.
After members have had a chance to complete the worksheet, go over each story element, allowing class members to talk about their reactions to it.
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