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Would you/have you worked for a religious organization?

I work at a privately owned medical clinic that rents clinic space from a Catholic hospital. It can be incredibly frustrating. I get to hear prayers over the loudspeaker in the hallway. What has been the experience of others working for or near a religiously owned organization?

zmac80 4 Nov 7
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13 comments

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0

If the $$ is right and it's in my profession (IT). Their money is as good as anyone else's.

1

No! I would be a hypocrite if I did.

1

I haven't, but I suppose I wouldn't completely rule it out. It would depend on what they're doing. If they were engaged in a task that I could otherwise get behind, I think I would be able to tune out whatever nonsense they insist on wrapping it in. You can't stop people from praying, least of all in spaces they have claimed as their own, and I'm not sure I would even want to, any more than I would want to raze cathedrals or prevent performances of some of the wonderful liturgical music that exists.

I do miss the music. I loved singing in the choir and even when sitting in the pews. I wish their was a body of music even half as large for non-theists. You know. Like feasting on babies and orgies and the like. "Suffer the little children to cum onto me!" or "Nearer my dog to me!"

2

No, but I'd be happy to work against a religious organization.

1

Never and would have not even considered it if it was offered.

1

Definitely not. If an organisation has any kind of religious agenda, I refuse to interact with it in any way whatsoever. Unless it's a charity shop and I need some cheap clothes. Then my morals can go fuck themselves.

2

I volunteered...
(quick back story) I did something stupid at 18, (nothing all that bad) had some court stuff, and got my dad to bail me out. I didn't want to sit in jail while the courts SLOWLY went through their motions. Parents were separated since I was in grade 4.
My dad still went to a Mormon church... Oops, Damn auto-correct... I meant Moron!?!?

Any-Who. I was bored one week-end and decided to go with my dad to church. (been a non-believer for some years already) I already knew most of what it was like from when my parents were together, so yeah, just bored.
They start with the usual big get-together, with everyone in the chapel. Then split into groups so I went into the young adults class. The class was very small, about 4 others. I didn't participate in the opening prayer, so it was asked why I didn't. I am very honest, and respectful, so I told the teacher that I didn't believe in the teachings of any religion I know of, not just theirs. Flat out told her I was just bored and came with my father.
This church was very family orientated... that was what I liked about it. They had activities during the week for kids. Dinners and pot lucks just as get together s. Not focused on church, other than a prayer at the end of it... which I didn't participate in, but was respectful.
I eventually became the Young adult male rep, for the Pickering ward. I did more, and helped more than any other young adult male (their classification) in that church.
As far as I could tell the ??head honcho?? Can't remember his title... was very impressed with me. Tried a few times to get me to pray, with a half smirk on his face.

So I would say if I was forced into doing something like that... I wouldn't do it. But as it was my choice, and MOST of the church respected my contributions, even with me being a non-believer. I say it was a nice experience while I lived there.

1

I've not worked for or near a religious organisation, but grew up with a father that was a part of one, so I would never have anything to do with such an organisation ever again.

3

If it paid good enough money, I would. I'd probably get fired though: "You guys are praying? Ew."

2

I used to work as head chef for Holiday Inn helping to open two restaurants in Honolulu. Who knew that the star in their logo is the star of Bethlehem and that every managers' meeting was opened with a frickin' prayer? I complained to the general manager once saying it was a waste of time in a place that often required salaried employees such as myself to work 12-14 hours a day and that it was an affront to staff and employees who might have differing religious beliefs. He was surprised anybody would object and, of course, the policy never changed. I think anyone who wants to talk to the ceiling asking for supernatural guidance and support of their efforts at work can do so on their own time prior to a meeting. I have chosen never to stay in a Holiday Inn when travelling ever since.

Really? I've never heard that before. Kind of amusing when you think about how much bad stuff must surely go on in their hotels. Hookups alone! Haha

4

Never have and can't imagine that I ever would. Just working with religious people is hard enough.

I feel the same way. The one exception I might make is if the purpose were to catch them in discrimination practices, or something along those lines.

I would agree with you, most of them are pretty closed minded and in accepting of different beliefs.

3

I played bass in a 7th day Adventist church band for about a year. I'm pretty sure they stopped hiring me because they figured out I'm an Atheist. I didn't know any of the hymns, and the only reason I could play them was I could follow the other players well. And they probably noticed I didn't pray before eating.

It was a pretty sweet gig. I didn't make much, maybe $30 every service. But I got to work on my chops regularly, and I got a really good free lunch once a week.

2

I think I'd need to be pretty desperate for work. I support freedom of religion, but working for a religious organization and being inundated with all the faith-based rhetoric would wear me out before long.

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