GREAT new job, wiiiiiiiiiierd vibes....

[Flick]

This is the only forum I can think to put this in. I do need energy for strength and "sitcktoitiveness" if you will, but please allow me to explain the entire situation so that I may also get your inputs on it.

Recently I decided to abandon my attempt at running my own business and get a bona fide job-type job. Luckily I am able to stay in the same industry and apply 11 years of expertice (spelling?) to the new career. The people there as a whole seem to be really great and have really nice ways and personalities. (I should put in here that I work in the banking industry) The issue is as follows.

One of the men who works there is a Lutheran pastor. The owner of the company is a devout "All American Boy" who was captain of the A&M Baseball team 2 years in a row as well as one of the more recent USA Olympic Baseball teams. He is also a very devout christian. He keeps a bible in his office. My direct boss is also very devout. He keeps a bible on his desk AND in his car. :wtf: It seems that most of the people in the office, about 45 out of the 50 there, are similarly "aligned" for lack of a better word.

Everywhere I look are quoted bible verses. :hairraise Folks have christian symbols/pictures everywhere. They even have biblical references in our staff and sales meetings. This does not seem to upset the general populace and I have already been approached as "One of the Outsiders" (call me Pony Boy) by the other like minded folk. They picked me out on my second day as I wear a dragon around my neck that holds a hematite orb. One is christian but believes in handling it politically while the other is a little more obscure. :yikes: I was advised to keep the necklace hidden and my opinions to myself (* too late) as it may not get me fired but will certainly cause issue.
*I told my supervisor that I didn't think I would fit in as I did not hold to any specific principle that would fit with the others.

One side of me says to let sleeping dogs lie (no pun intended) and yet the other says express myself just as much as they do. Unfortunately that is the less agreed upon approach for this situation.

I am asking for energy as I need some serious strength to keep myself together. Temptation to retaliate is a dark *censored*. This job has the ability to become exactly what I need for my 2 little girls and myself.

Any opinion folks? I have been out of commision for about a week and miss the input. I am eager to see what you all have to say.

Thank you and blessed be,
Flick

:bangyourh

[morrigen]

I was wondering where you'd got to, hon.

This one's hard. I know what I'd *do* and I know what i'd *advise*...and they're not the same.

OK. if I was advising a friend (and I am) I'd say keep your head down, bum up, and ignore what you don't like. Be non-commital in your opinions and remember that the job will help you and your family.

And then I imagine myself in your place...and I'm getting all fired up and wanting to lecture them all about tolerance and acceptance of diversity.

I guess the thing is, as far as things go....these people aren't really that important in the scheme of things. They're not part of your "real life". Their opinions only matter when it comes to your job. Maybe you just need to keep private and work lives separate.

Tho it doesn't seem fair....

wish I was more help. :)

[Hoot]

This is a hard one, especially since I'm sort of walking through a few of these problems myself. I can only tell you what I decided to do, which was just to let it be as much as possible. I don't need to display outward signs to know what I believe, and I can even smile and nod, and say, "Thank you for thinking about me" when proselytized to, even though their arrogance may irritate me. Inwardly I can pray to whomever I please, or no one at all, in an appeal for for strength. But if the job is as potentially important as you believe it to be, just as the situation I'm in is to me, then that's what I would do. I know others will completely disagree with me here. But you can only decide for yourself, of course.

Good luck, Flick, and lots of love is with you. :hugz:

[Flick]

Thank you both for your honest and heartfelt ideas. And thank you Morrigen for calling me your friend. Friends are what I need right now.
Part of me wants to take some of my Dragon statuettes to work and decorate my desk with them. That same part wants to take my traveling altar with me and have it to the side so I can "pray" over my meals and such like they are doing. What really tweaks my gourd about the whole thing is that everywhere you look there are people praying, drawing the sign of the crucifix, and talking about "Mel's new movie" (really ticks me off when they talk like they know him). It is 99% to the point of being offensive to me. But then again like you said Hoot, it is one helluvan opportunity. I know that I have to weigh the pros and cons but it is such a tug-of-war. In one breath I want to just breathe because I have a moment to. The next breath I want to vocalize my truest of opinions. It really is an odd situation.
Just imagine working in a holistic/occult shop as a devout christian. That is the closest I can come to being analogous.
I wonder if I should post "Flick's work journal" as a thread to let you all follow the progress of religious oppression in the 21st century? (Had to get my bit of feciciousness in there)
Blessed be,
Flick

[Jenet]

Yikes!! That's the first thing that came to mind after reading your post, please no one take offence here but it sounds almost like an episode of the Twilight Zone (or Outer Limits etc)!

Flick, you have more patience than me, I'm fairly sure I would have said/done something by now but then again I tend to react badly to that kind of atmosphere.
A message here from my other half (Norse Pagan, in some ways far calmer than me in others...well!)
1. Wicca is a recognised/protected religion in the States (nice big umbrella to hide under too, to most people's minds Pagan = Wicca), as such if they start getting unpleasent at you because of your beliefs you have some legal recourse.
2. Pocket dragons! No one can object to them, they're cute and fluffy (and Jewish) and can make a good substitute for more esoteric dragons. Use them as a start point, if people don't raise hell (no pun intended) start slowly bringing in other things.
3. If it all gets too oppressive, point out the dangers of fundementalism - look what fundies of all religions have done to others in the name of "The True Way".
4. Don't lose your sense of humour, if they bitch - return jokes, at your own expense and theirs.
5. Know thine enemy! Listen to them, learn, if they try to convert you feel free to turn their own inconsitancies back on them!
End message

My own suggestion would be to keep your head down for a while and find out if there is anyone "in power" that is likely to be sympathetic to you. Bear in mind that if they do take issue and it affects your position the words "discrimination" and "lawsuit" may not win you any more friends but it should get you some breathing space. Yep, I'm a cynical b****h! ;)

Let us know how things are going and know that we're all thinking of you and wishing you luck.
Jenet

[Pesha]

Ah Flick my dear, I have been there as well and had to hold alot of myself in for the time I worked at this particular nursing facility. Everyone was a xian of one type or another. And me being me took all I could one day and well I could not hold it in any more and so I wentvthrough alot of trouble and backstabbing. The ministers that came there finally had their way and I got fired. I never fought it, I just felt so odd and strrange that I had had to go through it all. In the long run it was for the best and I went forward in my nursing, but you know it still makes me angry ro think of it to this day. Now as to your particualr situation. Do what you feel you must to keep this job as it is a good one for you. Bless those that oppose you , hold yourhead up high and rememebr the reasons you are there.

BB
DS.