I work for a church and I can't stand it any more.

[AwakeOSleeper]

I've been a percussionist for a traditional church service for almost 3 years now. I get paid 75 dollars a Sunday for 2 hours of playing, which may seem like a nice deal to you, but after a while I assure you it's draining to hear the same old bullshit every week. I have gotten very, very good at pretending to be a Christian. I play my best and arrive on time, but I don't think I can do this anymore. It's just too much of a burden. I've lost respect for myself and feel like a hypocrite. But this Christmas Eve rehearsal tonight tipped me over the scale.

The traditional service I usually play is made up mostly of old people. Not a lot of kids. Old folks I can handle as they've already done their damage. It's the brainwashing of children that I really have an issue with. Tonight we ran the entire set for tomorrow night's service, and part of it is apparently a book reading to children who will sit in front of the stage. The reader went on and on with this bullshit about the entire world rejoicing when Jesus was born, and making the kids respond to questions, further cementing the twisted superstitions. I was so angry my knuckles were white. After the rehearsal I was forced to be part of a prayer circle, which lasted about 10 minutes. I almost punched someone I was seething so hard.

I can no longer work under these conditions. After Christmas I'm considering quitting altogether and sleeping in on Sunday instead. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Oddly enough, I have had a very similar experience. I am currently a percussionist at my church. I started while I was christian and I was scared to tell anybody that I stopped. However my experience is much different than yours. I love it. I love the music, I love the people, and I just enjoy it. I do not believe the words, the prayers, or the lyrics; I just love the community. I personally think that humans are terrible when left to their own devices and I see no problem with instilling some kind of values that benefit mankind in our children. I personally believe that at some point, they should be given the opportunity to decide for themselves and not be judged for it (which I was not given). Christianity IS NOT always a bad thing. Obviously there are a lot of problems in the modern churches and that sickens me. But overall, the core doctrine is a good thing. It brings meaning to millions of peoples' lives and I do not think that should be attacked. You are free to disagree with me and I am interested to hear your arguments (in a mature and intellectual way, I am not here to fight).

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I do not think the OP said being a christian was required. He just playing the game, like we all do, for the job.

It would not be in my best interest at my job to profess my dislike for the present day law enforcement, so I just 'play the game' like everyone else does at their job.

Gotta eat!

@AtheistChurchEmployee

75 bucks is 75 bucks.

Um no. There is a bigger picture here. Yes for most people you do what you have to do. But not to the point of losing your dignity or living a lie to placate others.

This isn't just about job title or work. It is not always good to shut up just to fit in. Social norms would not have changed if we always stayed comfortable.

There are worse things in life for many. It certainly isn't something you can tell someone to do as a blanket solution.

I think it is a bit of an overstatement to say Christianity is undignified. Have you ever been in a loving community? I still am. I cannot find it anywhere else but at church. Maybe it makes me a hypocrite but why is that wrong? Why is bringing joy to myself and others around me wrong or undignified? Why is letting my loving parents believe that I still believe in God and (in their eyes) am going to heaven wrong?