Pretend for pay?
I used to want to go to school for childcare and have worked in a couple daycare centers. I was jobless at this time and looking in a newspaper for a job. I found an ad for a Christian daycare for a religious teachers assistant. I was with a religious friend of mine and jokingly asked him what he would do if I applied for this job. He looked at me in all seriousness and told me that if I did it, he would find a way to report me or something (to who?) and begged me not to 'corrupt children.'
The question is this; If you were desperate for a job, would you pretend to have a religion? If you would, and say you can pick whatever religion, which would it be and why?
The other part is if you say no. I understand why you would say no, you would be giving up to a degree, and perhaps messing with your values. But heres my thought. A lot of religious people will stupidly and stubbornly not give up on there godliness even if it means a life or death situation. Are we just as bad if we wont pretend we believe for the sake of living?
My answer, I'd totally pretend especially if it was temporary. I'd play it up, make a character, a parody if you will. Work on my acting skills ;p
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on -
It's actually illegal here to discriminate that way so it's hard for me to imagine. If I felt it was my only option for a job I guess it would depend on how 'religious' I had to be. I could gladly hand out religious flyers on a street corner while saying, "God Bless you," to each passerby if I was being paid by the hour. On the other hand I don't think I could look children in the eye and lie - although I could likely keep my mouth shut as long as I wasn't required to comment on Christian pre-school rhetoric. Each situation would be different for me, I guess.
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Permalink Reply by Zombie Atheist on -
I wish this kind of thing was illegal here...
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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on
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It does, however, preclude them from including any question regarding religion on their job application. If you aren't vocal about your beliefs (as you shouldn't be at work, and especially during a job interview) then I can't possibly see what the problem is.
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Permalink Reply by Mo Trauen on -
I have had to do this to an extent. I found it nearly impossible for me to pull it off because of the strong feelings I have about the evils of religion and the religious mindset. Having experienced a lot of early bullying and discrimination my view of religion is similar to the way a Jew would view Nazism. Most of you guys are younger and didn't have to live through that sort of thing, so you might be able to pull it off.
A more important question in my mind is why you think this "friend" of yours is a friend? He essentially sees you as being on the same level as a child molester--while at the same time has no problem with indoctrinating children to believe ridiculous fantasies.
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Permalink Reply by Zombie Atheist on
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I keep replying and my net keeps failing... *sigh*
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Permalink Reply by Zombie Atheist on
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Try again!
We're not really friends anymore though we have mutual friends so it's almost impossible to completely avoid him. At the time I found the ad we were friends though.
Also, sorry you've had to deal with it. I've been lucky to be fairly open with my stance on religion at my job, though I have scared away customers with my godlessness.
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Permalink Reply by Reggie on -
Sure, I could pretend to a point. But I am a terrible liar and I doubt that I could put up a convincing ruse, especially if others were searching for proof of my bonafides.
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Permalink Reply by Mo Trauen on
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And they will. One thing I have noticed about the religious is that they are pathologically nosy and gossipy.
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Permalink Reply by Reggie on
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It depends. I think I am surrounded by mostly moderates who don't usually pry or proselytize. But I know the type you speak of and they definitely exist.
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Permalink Reply by Becca on -
For me it would depend on the nature of the program and what my duties would be. There are many religious schools that are religious in name only and otherwise their curriculum is comparable to a typical secular preschool. I could only do it as a temporary job in a dire situation as I would not be able to keep up the charade very long. Thankfully the pre-k I am a teacher at is secular and my coworkers have no problem with me being openly atheist... In fact I'm pretty sure two of my coworkers are atheists but for whatever reason they don't/won't call themselves atheist.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on -
It would be to difficult for me to do it, especially if it involved kids. It's one thing to know they indoctrinate these kids at a young age but another to witness it; pretend to enjoy it right along with them. Impossible, I could last maybe a week before I would blow up over it.
As for your friends comment - 'corrupt children' I would have died laughing right there on the spot. Who would ever want children to think for themselves, have individuality and see the world as something scientifically beautiful. *eye rolls* Damned Atheists and their corruption of helpless children.
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