Each day my mind continues to be blown... religious request from potential employer

So I applied for a position on dice last week at what is apparently a Christian School. I have no problems with any religion of any background and I felt like the position requirements would be a great fit for my knowledge and skillset.

I applied, and was contacted today to schedule a phone interview for tomorrow.

I was then presented with this.

This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever encountered. Has anyone else ever seen something like this?

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Comments

Legacy User

Sounds like you're getting baptized through an email.

xD Lucas

I would take my expertise elsewhere, not because of Christianity, but because they won't allow you to work unless you sign that ridiculous statement.

gespenstern

This is totally awesome.

E Double U

Exactly which role did you apply for? LOL

Thacker

E Double U wrote: »

Exactly which role did you apply for? LOL

Network and Virtualization Engineer position.

Kai123

If your still interested in the job, see if they will respect your decision not to sign it. If they will not accept that, then chances are you might be gone after not attending service at some point.

markulous

Not sure which state you are in, but isn't that illegal? Or maybe it's only if they choose not to hire you if you don't sign it.

hurricane1091

This doesn't even seem legal. Church or not, you can't discriminate based on religion/race/anything so it seems unlikely that an organization would be allowed to make you sign something like this.

Thacker

hurricane1091 wrote: »

This doesn't even seem legal. Church or not, you can't discriminate based on religion/race/anything so it seems unlikely that an organization would be allowed to make you sign something like this.

It's apparently legal if the organization is focused on religion, such as a church or I guess in this case, education.

However, the position has 0 to do with the educational aspect and only to do with infrastructure and support. It's absolutely ridiculous.

hurricane1091

Thacker wrote: »

It's apparently legal if the organization is focused on religion, such as a church or I guess in this case, education.

However, the position has 0 to do with the educational aspect and only to do with infrastructure and support. It's absolutely ridiculous.

That seems unfair. I would take my talents elsewhere honestly, devote Christian or not. Next think you know, that new VM you're spinning up is turning into a holy crusade.

NetworkNewb

Bahahahahahaha, that's insane. Thanks for posting that letter! Definitely the funniest thing I've read today.

Edit: Also, I would probably be a-hole and respond back making fun of that.

cyberguypr

Am I the only one who is not surprised by the stuff that religious or political entities get away with?

kohr-ah

E Double U wrote: »

Exactly which role did you apply for? LOL

Network Messiah.... why?

I've seen stuff like this before when presented with religious work sites. They do it as they prefer to work with someone with their belief structure. Not a clue about the legality of it.

TheFORCE

gespenstern wrote: »

This is totally awesome.

This is really hilarious! I would do the phone call just to argue with the person.

Thacker

kohr-ah wrote: »

Network Messiah.... why?

I've seen stuff like this before when presented with religious work sites. They do it as they prefer to work with someone with their belief structure. Not a clue about the legality of it.

So what if a man believed that all women were below him and as a result only wanted to hire people with his same belief structure? What if that man asked people to sign a document stating as much before he even gave them an interview?

Can we see how that argument completely falls apart under scrutiny?

SteveLord

Pretty sure this is legal if they're a verified religious institution by the government.

Not to branch into this topic, but if you're not straight, I would certainly go no further.

NetworkNewb

Government approved discrimination, gotta love it.

snunez889

I once got accepted for a position like this. On what was suppose to be my first day, I was let go because I was a different denomination.

nelson8403

I'm sure most of the faculty signed the same thing, I wouldn't be too put off by it though if you really need the job. It's not forcing you to attend sermon or preach on it, if the pay is good I'd sign it and start right away!

markulous

nelson8403 wrote: »

I'm sure most of the faculty signed the same thing, I wouldn't be too put off by it though if you really need the job. It's not forcing you to attend sermon or preach on it, if the pay is good I'd sign it and start right away!

Only to get written up when they hear AC/DC Hell's Bells blasting from your car.

I mean if it's that or nothing, then I'd probably suck it up, but if those were not my beliefs I wouldn't feel comfortable walking on eggshells and faking my religion for a job.

E Double U

My employer is very open about its Christian values and so are the employees, but they didn't give me anything like this to sign lol. Employees have given me handouts on Christian living, but I just put them in my drawer without making a fuss (no chick tracts yet lol). Had my co-worker cry about the souls of me and my children since I'm agnostic, but I thought it was nice that she cared. Even had to explain to her why my wife and mother-in-law would go see the Dalai Lama speak when they are atheists because she is under the impression that Buddhists think Dalai Lama is God.

wtrwlkr

I completely believe that a christian school would do something like this, and it's apparently legal since they're obstensibly a religious organization. I actually attended a christian school from 7th grade until graduating and what you posted is nothing to what they made their employees go through. As I recall, in order to be employed there, all teachers had to sign a similar statement of faith, write an essay describing their "personal walk with the lord", and provide a character statement signed by their pastor. They also had to abide by a morality clause saying they wouldn't drink, dance, use tobacco, see movies rated higher than PG, wear "immodest clothing" (no pants for the female employees), listen to "inappropriate music" (even contemporary christian music was banned) and many other actions. Mind you this morality clause applied to them outside work hours as well. They even controlled what type of church the employee attended to make sure it was the "right" kind of church. Violating this clause was grounds for immediate termination, and I remember a couple of teachers who suddenly weren't there one day. In many ways that place was a cult, and I'm lucky I escaped with my sanity intact.

I echo the sentiments of others, take your ball and play on someone else's court. Any possible experience isn't worth the environment of scrutiny you're likely to find at places like that.

Skynet9

E Double U wrote: »

My employer is very open about its Christian values and so are the employees, but they didn't give me anything like this to sign lol. Employees have given me handouts on Christian living, but I just put them in my drawer without making a fuss (no chick tracts yet lol). Had my co-worker cry about the souls of me and my children since I'm agnostic, but I thought it was nice that she cared. Even had to explain to her why my wife and mother-in-law would go see the Dalai Lama speak when they are atheists because she is under the impression that Buddhists think Dalai Lama is God.

That's because eastern philosophy is very complex and god is not "required" unlike western's where god is must.

dark3d

Yes, this is a religious organization. I worked for a hospital system that was Catholic. You had to wear their bulleted list of religious values with your name tag. They pay no taxes. Ain't religion grand?

If you can put up with the hoopla, then go for it.. It sounds like they only want 'like minded' people around the children and apparently you are a little too realistic and logical.

J_86

Yep, got a similar thing once when I applied to a Catholic Church run origination. It's perfectly legal, but for sure different then your normal job requirements. Teachers sign something a long the same lines.

jahsoul

While I personally don't agree with the seemingly forced conversion through signature, I have no issues with the notion.

You are applying for job at a Christian school ran by a Christian organization with students who were sent there by Christian parents to get an education in a Christian environment, so they are more than likely looking for anyone who wouldn't disrupt the "harmony" for lack of a better word. It's the "whole picture" approach to it.

From reading most of the comments of the thread, even if you didn't have to sign that form, would probably complain because the environment is too "religious" and just wouldn't be a good fit for the company anyway, regardless of your skill level.

I woudn't sign that form and just request that the employer just be upfront with the belief portion instead of having people apply and then are blind sided by this form

LeBroke

I swear I just saw this post at either r/Jobs or r/Sysadmin..

MeanDrunkR2D2

I personally would take that job. Anytime anything broke that was my fault I could just say "It's just Jesus Christ himself testing me and he wanted this to break. Hopefully he will reign down his divine will to make AT&T fix their switch, oh praise be to God."

And virtualization, isn't that a bit "blasphemous" for them to believe in? lol. Sorry, just had to laugh at that.

Russell77

This is religious discrimination plan and simple. It's the last line in the document that makes it so. I don't see anything wrong with pointing out the mission of the organization and asking potential candidates if they can respect the ideals of the organization but you can't hang a sign up and say convert from Judisam or other religions or you will not work here.

orlandofl

This has got to be the most amusing thread on TechExams...thanks for posting! Cannot believe they would try and force their beliefs on you. Let us know which route you decide to go!

-Travis