Religion in the work place; it seems the Standard these days, in the interests of "Harmony in Cultural Diversity" among co-workers, to be a subject best left at the door when preparing to clock-in for the next eight to ten hours of the day. This is, of course, not the Standard practice of those for whom the prohibition of the discussion of certain subjects, up to and including religion, was imposed. Why was it imposed? To avoid philosophical/spiritual friction, which could end in strained teamwork, prejudice in the work place, violence or worse: a lawsuit. So, as the obvious result, religion is banned in the work place.

I have seen this Standard imposed and strictly enforced in every business in which I have previously been employed. The interesting trend, however, was that the businesses that stood the most firm behind the Standard were the restaurants and burger joints of My teen years. Now that I am older and have moved on to "real" jobs, I have noticed that it is in these places that the Standard is nothing more than an ideal to which only lip service is paid. This reasonable and rational Standard, though stressed by verbal condemnation from the management (upper or otherwise) and/or represented in no uncertain terms within the company handbook regarding rules of conduct, is commonly ignored. I have seen and have been subject to this discourtesy in such places as the Boeing Company, Motorola, Varian and ChemPure/Mega Kinetics.

I worked for the Boeing Company about three years ago as of this writing. When I began My employment, all signs of My "religious" inclinations were not outwardly apparent; I wore no telltale jewelry or t-shirts with indicative motifs, and I presented MySelf as "normal" as can please. The only assumptions to be made of Me were made while My training class toured the work area. Said assumption was that I was gay. The rumors spread and died quickly. I'm sure this was primarily due to the efforts of a friend of Mine who had told Me of the job in the first place. After that, things became comfortable and I soon made MySelf at home.

One day, as I was walking across the building to collect some materials, I noticed quite a number of religious articles on toolboxes and the walls. I was stunned...not upset or offended, just stunned. This company made an incredible deal about the Standard, but here were these Christian advertisements in great abundance, even in management offices and cubicles. I decided I could play that game, as well. New rumors were already in circulation about "Michael, the devil worshiper" anyway. Why shouldn't I enjoy the notoriety? I decorated My toolbox with a Brimstone sigil and many designs with varying Sharpie pens and a printout of an old Paintshop rendition of My personal symbol, the Abyssus. Inside I taped a blue Baphomet and a picture of an old wood cut depicting a group of heretics paying homage to Satan in his throne. I thoroughly camped it up. Immediately, the whispers and stares began, as did the fun.

As the talking became more open, it also became more hostile. People insisted that I should clean up My box because it was against company policy. I would invariably indicate the "praying hands" pictures and "Real Men Love Jesus" bumper stickers on their (and other's) toolboxes. After sufficient hypocrisy had reared its ugly head, I proceeded to add to My decor one of My all time favorite quotes:

Following the addition, the complaints flooded in and My toolbox routinely found its way onto My shift supervisor's desk. My supervisor lectured me to little result. I simply maintained that I was not responsible for other people going out of their way to scrutinize My toolbox instead of minding their own business and putting gossip and self empowerment before their actual on-the-clock duties. I didn't need to mention My detractor's own form of decor, as she was already aware of it and was herself guilty of trampling the Standard with her own religious decorative flair.

I responded to the reaction with the an additional quote:

This did not stop the whisperings and stares (I wouldn't have had it any other way), but no one really bothered to go out of their way to reach indignation anymore. As a matter of fact, many who had been standoffish became friends, one of whom was particularly intrigued by My clever application of Nietzsche.

These days, I work with My wife at a place called Silverado Cable Company (which, coincidentally, contracts work on the Boeing C-17 aircraft from the very same place and program where the above events transpired), where we both deal with the curious and the indignant. Some people ask us pertinent and reasonable questions regarding Satanism and its philosophy, but there are also those who ask ridiculous things for the sake of causing an argument and further friction. We do not become offended. We simply remain amused. It is impressive, sometimes, the unprofessional levels even managers will lower themselves to.

I previously referred to the Standard as reasonable and rational, and I still think of it as such. But I also understand that it is of little consequence, available to victims and whiners. It serves no purpose to those who know how to respond to a situation...or manipulate it.

(7/16/2002)