Is it really worth it....

[BiscuitTrouser]

Hey escapist, not sure if this should be in religion and politics but whatever. I have a conundrum and i really have no idea what i should do. Ive decided for the most part. Im not proud of myself though.

Background: Im in my final years of A level looking to go to medschool. Issue is i need volunteer work and work experience. Now. And as much as possible. My friend being an avid christian (totally aware I'm an atheist) invited me to help kids attend a christian education camp for a weekend to get some work done. And I really really need work done. Im just not happy helping what sounds to me like a thinly veiled indoctrination camp. But what do i know, i havnt been. I have to resist everything that's natural to me though.

I agreed to pretend i think that it is true, and to make sure i tell the kids everything they are told is right. Even if it goes against every fiber of my being. This friend of mine is a creationist though, and also thinks being gay is against the bible, not aggressively at all, she just disagrees with it. Im assuming this camp she loves must be similar to this due to her enthusiasm. On paper it will sound great "Helping poor kids get faith at a nice camp". In my head ill be spending 3 days endorsing something i really couldn't be more against (the possible anti gay creationist stuff that is, thought it wont be the bulk, maybe not even mentioned at all, its just telling them the bible is 100% right). Ive been told by my head of year to just do it.

I dont know if i can find work elsewhere. Is it worth it? Would you do this? Would you sacrifice principles for this? Just struck me as a hard choice i had to make. Im proud of being the kind of person who sticks to principles. Ever been in this kind of situation?

Perhaps im making this a big deal out of nothing. Its just a camp for kids to have fun maybe. Christian themed at most.

 

[Leole]

Well, what do you want more? Medschool or your principles? I personally wouldn't go to a pseudo-indoctrination camp, I'd seek another way of doing volunteer work.

Also,

And as much ass possible.

I lol'd a little bit.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Well, what do you want more? Medschool or your principles? I personally wouldn't go to a pseudo-indoctrination camp, I'd seek another way of doing volunteer work.

Also,

And as much ass possible.

I lol'd a little bit.

Epic typo. Damn spell check thought that was legit. Fixed now XD.

 

[goldendriger]

Who cares?
less than a weeks work and you have a great CV. It looks like you're a caring person and can commit to helping other (Employers love that kinda shit)
Personally, id suck it up and go to the camp, play nice and dont have an outburst and maybe you can use the guys at the camp for a reference if one is needed.

 

[Aetera]

If you just need the experience and not the money, surely there are tons of places that could use volunteers? Volunteer work always looks good.

...Besides, do you really think that working at a creationism-endorsing camp will impress scientists and doctors?

 

[Gigano]

Well, take it and go see if it's really a homophobic anti-science indoctrination camp.

If it isn't, great, have fun at summer camp, and pay harmless lip service to a harmless form of practising Christianity.

If it is, document its vile stances and methods as best you can, and raise awareness of them once you're done with it.

 

[3AM]

That is a tough choice, but what's the point of having principles and beliefs if they can be put aside when it suits you? Is this a paying position? If not, surely there are other volunteer opportunities for you. Shelters (human and animal), food banks, hospitals, clean-up crews, etc.

 

[bluepilot]

As someone who has applied (and failed) to get into medical school I would advise you to seek more medical related work experience.

The nhs has a week long program of shadowing in hospitals so I think you should get in touch with your local gp or hospital. You could even consider working as a healthcare assistant over the summer holidays.

I am applying for the accelerated program this year. I live on Japan so my options are a bit limited but I work as a medical interpreter

Bring on 2012 entry

 

[Actual]

Won't the person viewing your application say "Whooaa this nut-job spends his time brainwashing kids to believe in magical men in the sky, we need students of science not mythology, denied!"

Just call up some local charities and offer to help, most of them will be happy for assistance. Be aware though that to work with children you will need a criminal records check, which take time and are expensive so you may be better working with the sick or elderly, which is better related to a medical degree anyway.

I'm a little concerned that you weren't asked for a criminal record check to work in the Christian education camp. Do they let sex-offenders work with the kids?

 

[BryceS62]

Think of it like this you wouldnt go up to those same kids and say there is no santa so dont stress about your dissbelife in god just dont spoil their inocence

 

[orangeapples]

wait, so what are you going to be doing at the camp?

Are you going to be like a medical adviser like a quasi-camp nurse? Because I don't think you have to be Christian to do that. That'd just be "take care of kids."

Or actually teach kids Christian doctrine? Because I think you need to be Christian to do that...

 

[Simeon Ivanov]

Burn that camp down with SCIENCE!

Ya know, I remember something a friend of mine once said "Religion is being told what to do regardless of what you think is right" But here, either way someone is going to teach these kids about this religion bullshit, but I doubt they are aiming for med school. If there really is no other alternative, as hard as it may be for you ... I'd say do it.

 

[necromanzer52]

Do it so you can surreptitiously sow the seeds of doubt in the children's minds.

 

[Wingmna]

Anti-science? You guys must be talking about the vast unscientific assumptions made by evolution! Nice to know evolutionists feel the need to justify their own silly belief by adding it into each irreverent thread possible (irreverent since it has nothing to do with the question). You'd think if you truly knew something that you wouldn't feel the need to justify yourself is such a manner.

This friend sounds like a nice girl to be honest.

Either way, I as a Christian do not ever work on Sunday. Nor would I ever help out an organisation that promotes atheistic thinking or theology. Of course I also believe atheism sends you to hell, while you only think Christianity is a silly belief.

So do you honestly care that these people get taught Christianity when in your mind we are all meaningless cells anyway? Do you honestly believe that atheistic thinking will drive humans to a better place then Christian thinking? Since that is what it comes down too, do you so foolishly believe that atheistic is better JUST BECAUSE.... IT IS YOUR BELIEF?

Maybe.... Do you think atheistic thinking will magically give humans immorality while Christian thinking will keep humans as meaningless cells? Honestly, why do you think your beliefs are better then others when according to you everything does not matter anyway because there is nothing beyond, that there is really no point to life?

Umm, makes you wonder why all the trolls need to insert their opinions when that is all Christianity is... While Christians have much more at stake based on what they believe in terms of good/evil and yet don't feel the need to nastily insert their opinion at every turn by calling it unscientific without any backup evidence (just stupid assumptions they have obtained and created themselves). Or throw nasty words like homophobic when clearly the thread creator specifically said that she was against it IN TERMS OF HER OWN BELIEF, that means that she cannot justify HERSELF being a homosexual, from the sounds of it the girl does not care whether her friends are homosexual or atheists (which is the thread creator, and a Christian shouldn't care as long as they are not hurt or overly influenced by them).

Good to know that atheists are so horribly sad that they take every opportunity to heap insults on others... Others who honestly sound like nice people who TRUST atheists helping them out.

FYI, it is evolution that teachers bullshit to children. Like YOU I don't feel the need to back my quote up. But it is pretty evident in the public school system that idiotic atheistic thinking has taken control, HENCE why these camps ( and gladly private schools) exist, so like minded people can gather together in their own freedoms.

Actually I don't doubt that most atheists on here went through the public school system and hence were taught a certain evolutionary frame of mind... OH BUT IGNORE WHAT I SAY BECAUSE I AM ANTI-SCIENCE BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN OR PROVEN!

 

[Scarim Coral]

Surely you can find a volunteery centre online or look for a nearby centre?

I admit I would hate doing it but unless you can find an alternatives (depend on how much notices you give them) I would carry on with it since work experiences does matter alot when it come to employment or for your matter the medschool.

 

[Jordi]

Anti-science? You guys must be talking about the vast unscientific assumptions made by evolution! Nice to know evolutionists feel the need to justify their own silly belief by adding it into each irreverent thread possible (irreverent since it has nothing to do with the question). You'd think if you truly knew something that you wouldn't feel the need to justify yourself is such a manner.

What the fuck are you talking about? The only person who said "anti-science", said "go see if it's really a homophobic anti-science indoctrination camp". Nobody mentioned evolution but you. Creationism was mentioned by only two people, one of which was the OP, so it did have to do with the question. The other just said that scientists are unlikely to be impressed by it. Nobody is dragging these things into the discussion but you.

By the way, religion is anti-science, because it basically tells it's followers to blindly believe in things without any evidence, which is the exact opposite of the scientific method. Furthermore, Christianity actively denies any scientific discoveries that contradict a 2000 year old book.

For the OP, if you really pride yourself in sticking to your principles, then stick to your principles. I very much agree with this:

If you just need the experience and not the money, surely there are tons of places that could use volunteers? Volunteer work always looks good.

...Besides, do you really think that working at a creationism-endorsing camp will impress scientists and doctors?

 

[weker]

Actually I don't doubt that most atheists on here went through the public school system and hence were taught a certain evolutionary frame of mind... OH BUT IGNORE WHAT I SAY BECAUSE I AM ANTI-SCIENCE BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN OR PROVEN!

I Think people will ignore you because you seem to have released a large amount of rage[Insert kraken reference here]
"mind we are all meaningless cells anyway" He never said this.

" Do you think atheistic thinking will magically give humans immorality while Christian thinking will keep humans as meaningless cells?" For me and many other people I know, letting people believe in Santa is on par with beveling in Christianity and other religions.

"nastily insert their opinion" many of them do and its on par with atheist (this is only online because religious group expresses themselves much more not online)

"FYI, it is evolution that teachers bullshit to children. Like YOU I don't feel the need to back my quote up. But it is pretty evident in the public school system that idiotic atheistic thinking has taken control, HENCE why these camps ( and gladly private schools) exist, so like minded people can gather together in their own freedoms."

Schools teach things that are proven or scientific theories, therefore evolution, math, science are taught there. Its not atheists its called an education, after all we teach children about religions as well don't they? Let the kids make the choice.

"idiotic atheistic" "atheists are so horribly sad that they take every opportunity to heap insults on others" ironic...

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Anti-science? You guys must be talking about the vast unscientific assumptions made by evolution! Nice to know evolutionists feel the need to justify their own silly belief by adding it into each irreverent thread possible (irreverent since it has nothing to do with the question). You'd think if you truly knew something that you wouldn't feel the need to justify yourself is such a manner.

This friend sounds like a nice girl to be honest.

Either way, I as a Christian do not ever work on Sunday. Nor would I ever help out an organisation that promotes atheistic thinking or theology. Of course I also believe atheism sends you to hell, while you only think Christianity is a silly belief.

So do you honestly care that these people get taught Christianity when in your mind we are all meaningless cells anyway? Do you honestly believe that atheistic thinking will drive humans to a better place then Christian thinking? Since that is what it comes down too, do you so foolishly believe that atheistic is better JUST BECAUSE.... IT IS YOUR BELIEF?

Maybe.... Do you think atheistic thinking will magically give humans immorality while Christian thinking will keep humans as meaningless cells? Honestly, why do you think your beliefs are better then others when according to you everything does not matter anyway because there is nothing beyond, that there is really no point to life?

Umm, makes you wonder why all the trolls need to insert their opinions when that is all Christianity is... While Christians have much more at stake based on what they believe in terms of good/evil and yet don't feel the need to nastily insert their opinion at every turn by calling it unscientific without any backup evidence (just stupid assumptions they have obtained and created themselves). Or throw nasty words like homophobic when clearly the thread creator specifically said that she was against it IN TERMS OF HER OWN BELIEF, that means that she cannot justify HERSELF being a homosexual, from the sounds of it the girl does not care whether her friends are homosexual or atheists (which is the thread creator, and a Christian shouldn't care as long as they are not hurt or overly influenced by them).

Good to know that atheists are so horribly sad that they take every opportunity to heap insults on others... Others who honestly sound like nice people who TRUST atheists helping them out.

FYI, it is evolution that teachers bullshit to children. Like YOU I don't feel the need to back my quote up. But it is pretty evident in the public school system that idiotic atheistic thinking has taken control, HENCE why these camps ( and gladly private schools) exist, so like minded people can gather together in their own freedoms.

Actually I don't doubt that most atheists on here went through the public school system and hence were taught a certain evolutionary frame of mind... OH BUT IGNORE WHAT I SAY BECAUSE I AM ANTI-SCIENCE BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN OR PROVEN!

Whoooaaa dude. I like this girl, shes a fun friend and always really nice. You are right. I think these people are entitled to their opinions. Thats just fine. Great for them. I just dont know if i want to endorse anything i dont agree with... its a matter of principle. I never said i had anything against the people or the belief, just i wouldnt be comfortable spreading it if i didnt agree. I wouldnt ask you to teach children evolution was right? Thats the concept. Not that they are wrong and i am right. Just that opinions conflict and i have to try and force myself to say things i dont really mean. I dont like that idea. Dont get the idea i hate these people... they trusted me, i appreciate that, i AM going and i AM going to be nice, civil, and lie through my teeth to these people to keep them happy. I never wanted to argue with them, or yell at them or call them stupid. I just dont want to have to lie about what i think so i can protect their beliefs. Im sorry if that concept offended you.

At no point have i insulted beliefs or people or religions. You just attacked me for things you want to think i have done. Please take your hate speech elsewhere please. I respect people regardless of faith. I would like you to do the same to me please. "Idiot christian" does rather add a hypocrisy to "piling insults on others" since the score ties at:

My insults: 0

Yours: about 5

So erm. Yeah. That was pretty uncalled for and random hate spew. Thank you?

 

[weker]

Perhaps im making this a big deal out of nothing. Its just a camp for kids to have fun maybe. Christian themed at most.

I wouldn't recommend it, as many have said I doubt the employers will be interested in such a thing. There must be something else or other charity areas nearby. Also for such a "possibly" useful thing its not worth going against your beliefs.

 

[Zorpheus]

I think you're making a bigger deal out of this than necessary. What I would check up on is making sure you're doing volunteer work related to your med school aspirations. If the Christian camp will let you do nurse work, that'd be fine. Otherwise, try a different charity or a hospital.

Honestly, and this is coming from someone with Christian beliefs, don't make it about beliefs. In life, you're going to inevitably work with all sorts of people who do not match your beliefs to the letter. Put your beliefs aside and practice tolerance, for it is a far better "people skill" to have than anything that would be taught to you in school (or in a church).