The Mean, Old, Christian-Persecuting Atheist at Work

As you may know, I've been working in fruit for the last few weeks, as I spend my money-accumulating "vacation" away from the Beloved back in Quebec.

Now, many religious people think that I must be this really mean person, who is inexplicably obsessed with their god, and I can't ever let the subject drop. All us atheists are just bitter, and really hard to get along with: especially someone like me, who according to one of these comments, has no basis for my desire to spread non-belief at all. "None of it means anything."

Here's the reality.

I work mostly on assembly lines, so there is opportunity for discussion. I already know the church that two of my co-workers go to--Southern Baptist, in town. Another one is a Jehovah's Witness. Some are Catholic. I know that Scientology is ridiculous, because we already have a bible: why make up new rules? I know that my supervisor is

"The World's Biggest Homophobe: They Should All Be Forced Back In The Closet. "

What do they know about me? Well, I said to one of them: "I'm sort of a skeptic: I don't believe in anything."

Another one asked me what religion I was. She asked me if I was a Mormon. I said, "I'm nothing."

She laughed; end of discussion.

So there you go. I feel like I should hide a pretty big aspect of who I am in order to keep harmony at work while I slog through a difficult and physically painful job (it's actually hard to type this because of the apple packing I did today--swollen thumbs and blistered index fingers). Do I want to say "Oh, I'm a professional atheist?" Sure. But I know that my "fringe" "beliefs" may be disturbing to some ears. Poor babies. Do they think that maybe their religious and political beliefs might be disturbing to my ears? Of course, it doesn't matter. Why should they care?

Of course, I can't let the homophobic comments go. It would be immoral to stand aside and let that poison my world. I looked at my supervisor after he talked about what should be done with gays, I held up my "claws" at him and said "BOO!"

Maybe I didn't make a good lesbian. I was too busy flirting with the young men that day.

PS: I urge you; if you're ever tempted to go for easy money by taking a quick job at a fruit warehouse, don't. Save your wrists, fingers, and back. Not worth the minimum wage.