I've seen this before at work and it sounds like you are around a lot of Java Jocks, and while not all Java Jocks are that way, there are some who think Java invented everything it stole, and it's the one true way. They sort of act like the church during the Spanish Inquisition -- believe, or you are a heretic!

Just know that there are better people to work with/for, and I'm in the process of moving on myself. Even if it means I can't work in Perl or a similar language, I do at least know I'm looking for more open minded people to work with. More computer-science/hacker types, rather than business/corporate types...