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

[fr0d0]

You're pretending to be a christian to have the job right OP? Doesn't that make you a complete hypocrite? No sympathy sorry.

Yea ok instead of being judgmental, why not try understanding why minorities of ANY LABEL stay in the closet.

This isn't just about him, or atheists for that matter. You go against a social norm or suddenly up and leave, people notice and can be quite cruel and vindictive for no good reason.

This happened for a long time with mixed race marriages, and gays still to this day in many parts still have to keep it to themselves, especially teens.

Over my 13 years of being on line, I've seen countless stories of atheists catching shit from family and co workers and neighbors. I have had someone try to get me fired on a job. I have known a couple that got kicked out of their apartment after the owner found out. My own younger sister caught shit from our family when she came out.

It is even worse for atheist teens who by law still have to live at home with fundamentalist parents. I've seen many stories about that too. It is heartbreaking to tell them that the best they can do is put up with it until they are old enough to get out on their own.



This happens worldwide too. If you lived as a Muslim in an Arab state and decided to become a Christian the same thing would happen to you as it would if you were a Muslim and decided you were an atheist.

You want to know what we go through? Put on an atheist shirt or hat, walk around in public, you will get looks and or comments. But it is far worse than simply dirty looks for many.

You've been here how long? You haven't been booted. We may judge your claims, but you are not your claims. And every single one of us here has family and friends and co workers we love who believe. None of us would disown them for that reason.

My mother is still a Catholic, she knows exactly how I feel about religion. I don't have to sugar coat anything with her. But I still love her and she has always been my biggest supporter. But if you are a minority in any given society for whatever reason, it can be hard if not oppressive if you don't fit in.

I am lucky, but just like blacks and women and gays had a hard time. And just like Muslims have a hard time in the west. Christians and atheists would have a hard time in the east.

I'm a minority. Would you respect me if I didn't stand up for what I believe? Should you?

I'm not giving the guy grief because he's standing up against oppression. The guy is profiting from his dishonesty. I could easily profit from work that is immoral. Drugs, sex etc would make me lots of money. But I don't do them because they undermine my beliefs. I choose not to take those paths.

This guy, for whatever reason, took a dishonest path. He clearly has the choice to do the right thing.

What price do you put on doing the right thing Brian? How low do you go before you have the luxury of conscience? What's your price?