Adventist and Agnostics?

U.S.A. Oregon

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hello,

i am considering a position offered at portland adventist, and i am a little hesitant because i am openly agnostic. part of the application process involves stating your comfort level at some activities such as being asked to pray at the bedside or prayer during meetings. these activities do not make me comfortable, but i would be fine with these as long as my diversity is respected. (patients asking me to pray is another matter, i would do this without hesitation if i felt that it would be therapeutic to their well-being.)

i am not a person who would be offended at being asked to pray, but i would ask that i would be allowed not to participate actively, and that this would not reflect negativly on me by my peers. i also find it uncomfortable when people make assumptions about my religion or beliefs.

part of me feels that i should not apply to a adventist hospital due to my feelings, no more than a vegetarian should work at a butchers. on the other hand, i have worked at hospitals with religious affiliations before (it is hard to find a hospital that does not have one) and have not had a problem.

i would love for some input from someone who has been at adventist before, either as an employee or a patient. they seem to have a very good reputation and appear to be a good hospital, and part of me feels that i would be lucky to work there.

thank you!

pp

Hi, I work at Adventist. I would not recommend working there feeling as you do. Adventist is much more then just having a "religious affiliation", it is part of our Mission statement. Each shift as we are getting our assignment we read out of a daily devotional book and have a prayer for our patients, coworkers, etc. So, everything that you have heard is true and they are a great place to work BUT you must expect caring, compassionate, spiritual type coworkers. We have weekly memos that go to employees that talk about how the Lord has worked in a remarkable way with examples in the past week which I find exhilarating. That's how it is at Adventist. I'm just not sure how you would expect in this environment to be respected for your agnostic views, which quite frankly, I can't begin to understand!

Not being understood is what I am trying to avoid. Thank you for your post.

I worked at another SDA medical center a number of years ago, and would recommend it to anyone. There was no discussion or questioning about my own religious orientation/affiliation (or lack of same) in the hiring process, and there was v. little religious practice or emphasis in the workplace. It was medical center policy that daily shift report and all meetings were supposed to begin with a "devotion" and prayer, but most people seemed to just ignore that rule and there were no repercussions I was aware of. When someone did abide by the devotion/prayer rule, the hospital had provided an authorized book of devotions to use, and the the "devotions" were v. bland and non-sectarian -- hardly even Christian at all. More like "warm fuzzy feelings" (the beauty of nature, the importance of our relationships with others, etc.)

The SDA denomination does take its medical mission v. seriously, and SDA hospitals have a great reputation for providing great care. The one at which I worked was also a great employer. I would not discourage anyone from working at one, regardless of one's personal views (unless someone were just completely uncomfortable with the idea of being around religious people, period).

elkpark,

I would be happy to work at the type of institution that you talk about, but the statements by 2011 graduate paint a very different picture.

I have too worked at places with different affiliations, and within the same affiliations (Lutherian) I have seen both sides of the coin-- one place was quite liberal and stressed love and respect for others for the sake of love and respect, the other also stressed love and respect, but only in the name of God.

At the first, diversity was respected and we were seen as unique individuals with important points of view. At the second, many people were bothered by the fact that I was agnostic and I was seen first and foremost with this label (although it was not one that I advertsied.) I was hoping that Adventist would fall into the former category, but I am not sure.

Maybe a few other people who are familiar with Adventist will weigh in.

I would encourage you to not make any decisions about employment based on any single individual's input, and, as you note, I hope you will get more feedback from others who have experience within that particular SDA hospital. I'm sure there's a lot of variation among facilities even within the single denomination. However, I also doubt that the SDA medical center at which I worked was a unique exception within the SDA medical system. :)

Best wishes for your journey!

Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

I interviewed at PA and was asked the same question with the HR rep as was asked on the app, I answered somewhat vaguely, saying I would support the pt's spiritual needs, but since I am not that religion (raised catholic but agnostic also, which I don't believe is their business, and did not offer info) I would gladly help find someone to pray with them. HR seemed fine with that response and did not ask my religion. I had 2 interviews and everyone seemed very nice and down to earth but didn't bring up religion at all, and I don't think that had any bearing on not being offered a position. Good luck!

Specializes in PACU, OR.

Agnosticism shouldn't be a barrier to working in a religion-oriented environment; the term refers to one who is uncertain as to the existence and nature of God, which applies to most of us-even to some people who are themselves members of religious groups.

Now, if you called yourself an atheist, which is one who denies the existence of any deity, you might have a problem working in a devoutly religious environment.

While you may not feel any benefits of prayer sessions, you may benefit from Scripture readings, as these contain wisdom and advice that can help you in your day-to-day life.

I had 2 interviews and everyone seemed very nice and down to earth but didn't bring up religion at all, and I don't think that had any bearing on not being offered a position. Good luck!

Well, I hope that you get the job, both ultristically because I hope you get a job, and selfishly because then you can tell me your experiences in this facility. Good luck and let me know how it turns out!!

I hope you will get more feedback from others who have experience within that particular SDA hospital. I'm sure there's a lot of variation among facilities even within the single denomination.

I think Elkpark makes a good point.

My own experience with a local Adventist facility was positive. They had many employees who were of other religions, or not religious at all, and it wasn't a problem. A short opening prayer or devotional at some meetings was about the only religious aspects most employees were faced with.

I'm an Atheist myself (sometimes agnostic to be honest), and I would apply for the job in a tight market. I wouldn't go around wearing my religious beliefs on my sleeve because that's just unprofessional no matter where you work. I would be honest that I wouldn't participate in prayer, and have to be honest with myself if a lot of it bothered me. If it was so much that they prayed at every morning meeting to a specific god, I probably wouldn't like the job so much, but I might be able to handle it for a few years. That being said, I would handle the interview process and religious questions as you would at any hospital. "If the patient's religious beliefs and mine don't mesh, and they ask me to pray WITH them, I would call chaplin services, make sure their religious needs are met, etc."

I have worked at an Adventist hospital for 20+ years. I AM NOT an Adventist, but I am most definitely a Christian. What I have found is that as long as you are either comfortable with your self as a "christian" and can pray general enough without crossing unneccessary borders, or are comfortable saying "let me get someone that can opray with you" - it shouldn't be a problem. I am comfortable, and have prayed with employees and patients, and there have been times when I have said "Let me call a hospital chaplain".

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