Your observation is right on the money.

Just to add to this. She voiced her issues with discrimination towards her brother, mother, and father, who suffer from mental illnesses, and her experiences with racism, and yet she's going to treat me that way cause I'm a non believer.

Humans, fascinating creatures, aren't they?

Thanks to all who shared their thoughts, I really appreciate it. I'll admit, even though I'm used to this, it still made me feel a type of way.

sad

This is exactly why I cannot talk about religion at work....it would be too risky. I can barely keep the knowledge of who the Trump supporters are from affecting the way I treat my fellow co-workers......if I also find out they are 'bible thumpers'..... I recall a co-worker talking about how she believed in ghosts. She showed me a photo of what appeared to be a blotchy white form above somebody and she was convinced it was a supernatural visit. She was my supervisor and I completely lost all respect for her on that little bit of interaction alone. That's why it's best to keep it at the acquaintance level with some co-workers. It's best for work relations, I have found.

I'm not surprised by that at all. Religion has always been threatened by those who are willing to think and question beliefs. That's why "Faith is a virtue."

Your post reminds me of a judge deciding that a couple could not name their child Jesus Christ because only one man ever existed that had that name and he was god incarnate, so it was decided that the couple had to name the boy something else. How does crap like that happen?

I'm a high school English teacher, and (I guess obviously) I have some philosophical differences with some of the Christian teachers. I always saw literature as such as a chief means to understand very human problems so that when we encounter them in life, we have multiple frames of reference to grapple with the problem (emotionally, psychologically, socially, intellectually, etc). That's why the most significant pieces of literature deal with death, hardship, injustice, etc. I don't see exploring those issues in literature as reinforcing depression, hardship, injustice, onto the children. Yet the Christian teachers often do. They seem to like the book "The Alchemist", and I got to say I was not impressed with that book. It was thinly veiled Christianity in the thinest outline of the hero's journey possible. I know it is supposed to be "uplifting", or whatever, but it just felt like the literary equivalent of one of those Christian movies (ok, probably not that bad, but similar).
...
Anyway, when I was in high school 30 years ago, life at home was not always easy. I often felt alone, and most of the time the literature we read did not address any real issue I had ever had to deal with--which reinforced that I was alone. If we had read more books in the classic vein that grappled with tough questions that don't always have answers, I would have felt better, not worse. I would have known that plenty of people lived lives before me, dealt with the same problems I was dealing with, and found ways to cope and survive. That's what literature is for. I suspect the Christian teachers think that is what the bible is for, and all other literature is hopeless and depressing.

How was she not discriminating? What would happen if a child she was working with. Was either Muslim or atheist? I feel sorry for the kids or families she works with.

Wow! That's just crazy.

I sure hope she tip toes around clients way better than she did you?

Watch out for her in the workplace. If those conversations were by text, save them, you may need them.

I guess all of the help you've given people doesn't count because it wasn't done to glorify god.

I'm confused about what was "shut down." Were you her client, friend, or were you interested in dating her?

I feel your pain - there are so many of us wishing that those believers would be more open minded - maybe with time she will come around

And ever shall it be, world without end, amen.

I would imagine she'll be more accepting of children's "unbelief" than yours. She can tell herself they've been confused by whatever circumstances put them where they are. You, on the other hand, are supposed to know better. Lol.