Christian Ethics and careers

HydroMan
HydroMan: If you are a Christian, how do you decide what kind of work is acceptable and not acceptable

For example, a Christian might believe it is not appropriate to play music as a DJ at a gay wedding. But how far do you go - would it be wrong also to sell a wedding gown for someone who is going to wear it at they gay wedding, or drive a gay couple in a limo to their wedding?

Another example, it wouldn't seem wrong for a Christian to work at a petrol station. But what if you were required to sell pornographic magazines or cigarettes at the petrol station?

How far do you go, where do you draw the line?

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Zanjan
Zanjan: Gosh, it's been 9 days and no Christian wants to answer that question! That's disturbing.

I'm not a Christian but I'd like to weigh in on your first example- that has been legally resolved in North America. Canada's Constitution doesn't permit personal discrimination in the workplace or in public. Sometimes, it's not easy to prove but we have the Board of Human Rights to flesh out each case.

Not long ago, there was a surprising challenge by one province; it tried to rule against any religious expression by government workers - that is, they were forbidden to wear religious symbols at work. The excuse was they didn't display Canadian values. Fortunately, all the rest of Canada stood up with indignant wrath and flatly put down that shameful institutional attempt to obviate the law.

We're still working on the hidden and isolated incidents of abuse. Headway is being made because almost everyone carries a cell phone cam these days.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of the USA recently ruled that the Civil Rights legislation of 1964 covers all kinds of discrimination as well; that would include any form of gender identity. I think most Christians wouldn't want to be caught doing something illegal.

Countries outside of N. America may well have different conditions and laws but your second example is still valid throughout the world.
(Edited by Zanjan)
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HydroMan
HydroMan: Thanks zanjan.
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HydroMan
HydroMan: The discrimination thing is interesting. What if a Muslim had his own business and embroided shirts, and someone asked him to make a shirt that said, "muslims are evil". Would it be an act of discrimination to refuse service to the customer, as the it would go against the beliefs of the Muslim to make that kind of shirt?
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Zanjan
Zanjan: If I were in the Muslim's shoes, I wouldn't get angry - I'd point out the wording is legally a hate crime (at least it is in my country). To be conciliatory, I'd say,' I can make you a shirt with wording of your choice that isn't personally offensive to anyone'.

The seller still has a modicum of control over the sale of their products and services. When the seller has his label on the item - whatever he sells, his reputation on the line. For instance, when I sold purebred dogs, I turned down many prospective buyers. None of them could accuse me of *inappropriate* discrimination since I had numerous reasons for rejecting them.

I think one can apply your example to inappropriate behaviour in a public place. If you walk into a business and insult the staff, they can certainly remove you from the premises.
3 years ago Report
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HydroMan
HydroMan: and this is why there is so much debate over this issue today. For instance, if a person wants to refuse selling or making a cake that will be used for a gay wedding, do they have that right (" modicum of control over the sale of their products and services" or is it discrimination? And you have the issue of how far do we take it - can a person refuse to sell balloons if they know the balloons will be used for a gay wedding? I find these issues challenging, largely because not many Christians seem to have an answer. And you made the point earlier, 9 days and no Christian wants to answer this question. There are many things that I have disagreed with you in the past, but I find your input on this matter very helpful, and thank you for it
3 years ago Report
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Technically, it's not discrimination if the seller doesn't tell the customer that's the reason they're declining. There must be a different reason put forward; so, in your examples, that would call for some clever stick-handling. It's all in the words and that's what makes the charge of discrimination hard to prosecute. There are loopholes in any civil law.

There's none in religious law - that is, if you *think* it, it's as good as done. One must beg forgiveness for wrongful thoughts. I agree with you that it's important to have such conversations. On a note (from a church speaker) about wiggle-wording, I include this:



(Edited by Zanjan)
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kai malon labe
kai malon labe: When one accepts a position they also accept the responsibilities of that position. If you cannot fulfill your obligations as an employee, then you need to find a new job that fits you.
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