Good time for a sick day

Call FFRF if you want support and want to report them or ACLU. Don't let them bully you into going if you really don't want to.

Well if the job depends on it then you better do it. But start the search for a new job tomorrow. Oh say amen alot.

I just watched a 5 min video of David Green on YouTube and couldn't stand it! I don't know how I'm going to get thru this.

Wear a subversive t shirt

Yell "Praise the Lord" and "Halleluja" a bunch of times, and start dancing around convulsively, speaking in tongues. I'm begging.

I would not sign up. I would do my job and I would document everything. That's if you like your job and are not interested in quiting.

Your boss outranks your co-workers. Besides, the hobby lobby guy is thieving trash. I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire, much less go out of my way to hear anything he thinks he has to say.

Smile and move on. When in a position to implement change do so.

My suggestion would be to not sign up. Discreetly check the list to see if the coworkers put your name on it and if you can identify anyone else missing from the list. If your name isn't on the list, wait and see if your supervisor brings it up to you. If she doesn't and your name isn't on the list, don't go. If someone else put your name on the list, and HQ/COO doesn't send you a personal reminder to attend, don't go and if questioned, tell them YOU didn't put your name on the list.

Alternatively, if you are comfortable with your immediate supervisor and don't think she is a zealot, ask her outright if non attendees will be frowned upon. They said it is optional, if you feel you can trust your sup, you should be able to tell her you would prefer not to attend but not if it results in negative consequences. See how she responds.

Having raised a kid by myself, I understand weighing principles against necessity. Sometimes we have to bite our tongue and just do what we have to do. If it looks like not attending will jeopardize your job, you may be well off to attend the speech and then rant here after.

I work at a company who advised a customer service rep not to say god bless to customers because they don't support any one religion. She quit. LOL! This does not help you in any way, I know, but that made me happy knowing I'm working for an all inclusive company.

We always have choices. Your would probably be better off working elsewhere.

I wouldn't go

Just sit there and nod once in awhile...

Find a pen, pencil, marker, whatever ... cross your name off.
Remive the source of your frustration - just like that !

I don't think you can be forced to do this. Coercion might be a better word, although it is more of a social obligation then anything else. I would just say, no thanks, I'd rather not. If they don't take that for an answer there is definately a problem. They could be less friendly towards you, but that's about it. If you get fired for declining the invite, you could have a legal cause to sue for discrimination. If that happens, sue the crap out of them! This could actually be your lucky break!

So you work at hobby lobby or is this just a speech by the HL guy your boss asks you attend? If it's not being paid, they can't legally make you go, but they can certainly do plenty as an employee to make your life difficult like cutting hours or giving bad shifts etc. So it comes down to what is likely to happen or other circumstances, and whether it's worth your trouble to decline going.

You should not feel obligated to do that and it would be illegal for them to impose that on you. If your boss says not mandatory then don't attend if you don't want to. It's that simple.

Don't be. We all make these concessions one way or another. Breadcrumbs

Wow, tough spot to be in. Considering that you're lamenting on it here rather than outright quitting suggests to me that you need this job, so let's try to find a way to keep it and save your sanity.

You may be able to get away with seeming too religious. What I mean by that is that you don't celebrate any public displays. We have someone like that at my work. He doesn't do Halloween events or even Christmas office parties. I never pried into his religion, but I wonder if he's a Jehovah's Witness. I don't know.

But if you state that you do not feel comfortable with flouting your faith like the Pharisees, then this may deflect them away from your nonbelief. Read up on what Jesus said about public displays of prayer in Matthew 6:5:

*"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward."

• Also check out Luke 18:10-14, which is actually a rather moving tale of humility:

*"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

• Now the tricky part is mentioning this to your co-workers without insulting them. People don't like being called out on their crap. Wrap yourself in an envelope of humility. When you do not speak of your faith, it is not because you have none. It is because you do not wish to put it on display for all to see. And besides, Christians don't typically expect nonbelievers to chuck Bible verses at them.

I've dealt with many believers. I've learned that it's easier to phrase everything from their perspective. They are more willing to listen that way.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. You have probably had to do worse. Sometimes it is about survival. Don't fret about it.

Just go and get it out the way, because if you don't go they may try to black ball you behind closed doors. Nothing wrong with keeping the peace on your job, just remember who you are and what you stand for, you might have to keep all that inside at the religious event because of conflict of interest.