Has atheism affected your work life?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jake on July 13, 2008 at 2:29am

I am a blackjack dealer and I like to vocalize my stand on religion a lot when someone makes a reference to god or religion; I am not shy to put in my two cents. It has gotten me into a bit of trouble sometimes. For example, I took a lot a this guys money one night and when he left he said god hates me and I am going to hell. I replied by saying "well its a good thing I am an atheist and I don't believe in hell". The guy got really mad and offended and went to my bosses and told them what I had said. My bosses told me that what I did was wrong and I should not publicize my beliefs but they really couldn't do anything to me.

As far as education goes, I think you are in a good position to be a role model for children on what an atheist is. If you are a good person with good morals and the kids know you are an atheist they might realize it is not a bad thing and might check it out themselves. I am all for there being more atheists in this world and I think the best place to make that happen is in our schools. I don't know how the system will react to you verbalizing your atheism but I think you should not hide it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean the Blogonaut on July 13, 2008 at 8:01am

I am in Australia, so I find it relitively easy to be open about my atheism. In a previous job all the management team were atheists. I wear a "godless" cap to work and a hoody with ATHEIST emblazoned on the front so I guess I am lucky.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by vjack on July 13, 2008 at 9:04am

What an excellent question! In your case, I think it will depend greatly on what level you teach at and where you live. I would guess that the more you have to deal with parents, the bigger deal it will be.

I teach (among other things) at the university level, and I've lived in areas where it would have made no difference whatsoever. Here in Mississippi though, it certainly makes a difference. I've had students try to argue against evolution, and I am certainly very aware that the overwhelming majority of my co-workers are Christian.

I think the hardest thing is likely to be that many Christians cannot separate being an atheist from hating Christians. Upon learning that you are an atheist, they are likely to apply every stereotype their church has taught them to you. This can make things tough.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by perry on July 18, 2008 at 11:20am

We have the same problem here in Alabama with Christians thinking that atheist must hate Christians. This is the worldview that their church propagates. Sadly many people can not "come out" because their parents would disown them because of this type of mindset.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Flathead on July 13, 2008 at 9:22am

Boy, am I glad to be living in a society where you don`t get looked at as a freak when you say you`re an atheist.(although, with the current events throughout Europe....). I never had to hide it, and am always straightforward about it. Even with some friends of my girlfriend, who are followers-of-the-cross. They`re always offended, no matter how much I candy-coat my opinion. Bottomline; stand up for your atheism, but be prepared to take some blows. I`m glad to say my manager is an atheist too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jojo Chintoh on July 14, 2008 at 8:24am

I was a teacher in a Muslim country where, even though daily life was completely secular, the 'a-word' was pretty much completely verboten. Even people who said, 'you know I think I don't really believe so much in God' would still call themselves Muslims only. So, as others have said, I tended to say 'I'm not religious'. Had I called myself atheist, I don't think they'd have hated or mistrusted me, but they'd have looked askance.

The thing is that it's not a bad answer actually; true as it goes and more accurate a response to 'what is your religion?' than 'atheist' is.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roy Roberts on July 14, 2008 at 10:36am

I've been pulled over by the boss at least twice (one time at two different jobs) and asked not to discuss religion with coworkers.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dale MacDougall on July 18, 2008 at 11:40am

Why? Were the christians offended that someone would state they were an atheist or were they tired of coming out on the losing end of any discussions about religion?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alana Smithee on July 14, 2008 at 11:24am

Although I'm in what supposedly is the "least religious" state in the US, I too take the "don't ask/don't tell" standard into the workplace with me. As the lucky owner of, shall we say, a gregarious personality, this is the best system I've come up with so far. I also believe in taking the high ground whenever possible and showing by example "what an atheist is" as much as I can (albeit this would be pretty damned tough to do with religious co-workers up in my face). I think that the example of a calm atheist v. a hysterical believer can be a powerful tool to help shatter stereotypes.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Josh Gough on July 19, 2008 at 11:08am

I don't work in education, but the other day someone brought an atheist group on my meetup.com profile, and I just said that I love to learn about the history of religion and the parables, but I do not believe that the stories were literal history. I said I didn't believe in people coming back from the dead or walking on water.

She said she didn't believe that either!

But, she does go to church.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeremy on July 19, 2008 at 2:22pm

My atheism hasn't adversely affected my work life. I think it depends a lot on the environment that you work in. The average employee in my workplace tends to be at least college educated, and I've found that the more highly educated the group, the more tolerant they are as a whole, even in a state like Alabama.

That said, I think you as a teacher could run into to far more problems due to the nature of the work. I hope I'm wrong, but it's something I'd play by ear in your shoes.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chip on July 19, 2008 at 4:39pm

In my work, I deal predominantly with black and Latino folks in economically depressed areas, who tend to be overwhelmingly Christian/Catholic. Also, my organization works with progressive Churches, so I try not to bring it up, as a barrier to my job. However, older folks, and those employed by the churches like to bring it up, and I'm always honest with them.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page