My name is Karen, and I am new to SA Atheists (although not new to Atheism). I was hoping to get some opinions on "coming out" at work.

I work for a small, family owned business where everyone, and I mean everyone (other than me), is christian. My supervisor has a wall with about 15 crosses on it; another co-worker has three crosses, her father's bible, and two pictures of Jesus at her workstation. The company owners go to church regularly, and many of the employees' kids go to christian schools.

Do you think I would be jeopardizing my job by coming out? There have been many times I was tempted to say something (especilly when co-worker starts singing gospel songs and telling everyone to embrace Jesus). One day she said to me "Jesus loves you!", and I answered her "No he doesn't, he's dead." That's as close as I've come so far to stating my religious beliefs (or rather, lack of any).

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am dying to wear my red "A" shirt to work. Maybe this would be the way to come out?


Thanks,
Karen

You really don't have to come out, especially if you feel it's going to put your job in jeopardy or make you the victim of discrimination. Frankly, it's none of their business. But if you really want them to know that you don't share their beliefs, you could just tell them you're not religious and leave the taboo "A" word out of it so their ears don't bleed.

Telling them you're an atheist, you might open up a door that you wished you hadn't. If they're as religious as you say, you might just become their new "project." There's nothing more annoying than someone trying to convert you, and I don't know that you want to put up with that every single day.

thats pretty sound advice from Avery. Remember this is Texas. They can let you go pretty much without any reason. I was pretty much in the same situation (although I think you'll find the same scenario at any type of small business-hey theres always Home Depot), not quite to that extreme, but small family owned business with probably not a single non-christian other than myself. But now I've been there almost 8 years and am pretty entrenched. I still don't go shouting from the treetops about my religious convictions but i don't tolerate religious emails, attempts at conversion, or any of that kind of thing. Things to consider are: how much do you really like your job, how well do you get a long with your co-workers on non-religious subjects and do you do your job to the level that it would make it difficult to let you go?

I don't think they would have any clue if you wore your red "A" shirt

Thanks for the advice. I've been with the company almost twelve years and do like my job and co-workers, and they probably wouldn't let me go. But you're right. I'd probably have everyone trying to convert me and sending me even more religious emails.

I will have to be content in knowing I am the only person there not brainwashed into believing in fairytales.

Well then on second thought, there's more than one way to look at this. Not to confuse the situation, but if you're sure they wouldn't let you go, and if you're sure they like and respect you, it might not be the worst idea to "come out." Sometimes it's a real eye opener for religious people to see that atheists aren't necessarily horrible, immoral monsters.

Unless, of course, you are a horrible, immoral monster... then please just keep your atheism to yourself. hehe

I am a public school teacher and I have been working at one school for the last ten years. I don't remember how I brought it up but I quietly let a few people know that I was an Atheist and they were OK with it. And for several years there were no problems. When I started mentioning that a coach should not be leading prayers and giving his interpretations of the bible at a non- curriculum related early morning student bible club then the administrators attention got on me. When they additionally discovered that I was teaching evolution and the big bang theory in my art class then they tried to cut my throat. Anyway I had several things set up like letters to the superintendent, researching protected status civil rights that applied to me, research on evaluation procedures and how to induce or avoid lawsuits, and making her aware that she was incompetent as a principal who had apparently been asleep for years as to what I had been doing. She had also issued educational directives that apparently applied to all teachers but for religious and political reasons did not apply to me. I made her aware that if she cut my throat she was going to have her butt kicked for years by higher level administrators due to the legal issues she was playing with.

Be friendly but be ready to cut their throats. I protected my job but I did not affect the situation with the creationist coach. For that I think we would need a parent complaint which will probably not happen since the kids in the club have parents who want them there.


I recently talked loudly about this frustrating situation with another teacher in front of a government region 20 individual who was providing some teachers some lessons this past summer. Then in August, at the beginning of this school year, for the first time everyone was required to read and sign off on several policy issues such as whistleblower protections and anti-discriminiation protections that applied to religion. I like to think that my loudmouth this past summer had something to do with this.

Keep your resume updated.

Make sure all your bills are up to date.

Keep 3-6 months worth of living expenses in your accounts.

Ask yourself "Do I really want to work around these people?"

Have a coke and a smile.

;-)