Thursday, 25 October 2012

  • The Work and Faith Dilemma: Working With Clients Who Promote Opposing Beliefs

    I used to live next to a couple who were New Age spiritualists -- they believe in reincarnation, many gods, goddesses, and do ceremonies and stuff. The woman says she can talk to animals, do spiritual healing, and talk to trees. I would take care of their cats when they went on vacation and stuff. I once asked them what they believe spiritually but never really had a deep spiritual conversation with them.
     
    Because I studied Digital Art in school, a few years ago they asked me to design a logo for them for a website they were working on. The purpose of the website was to teach people how to create altars for gods/goddesses, how to do ceremonies, and to sell products relating to them. They offered to pay me, so I accepted and created a logo for them. But I wondered if it was right for me to do that as a Christian, since I disagree with their worldview and the website would be promoting it. 
     
    Recently, they asked me again if I could help them make a video for the website -- which is not up yet -- showing people how to set up an altar. The woman said it was for people to create a sacred space in the house so "they don't have to go to church." She asked if it was too weird for me, but I agreed to help them because I wanted to earn some money since I don't have a job right now. But I started to once again question if I should do this.
     
    On the drive back home, I realized that I shouldn't have said yes. If an atheist offered to pay me money to promote atheism, I wouldn't do it, so why was this different? I'm sure they would feel the same way -- if someone tried to give them money to promote Christianity, they wouldn't.
     
    I e-mailed my pastor and my discipler about this, and they gave me slightly different answers. My pastor said I should pray and follow the Holy Spirit's lead, and my discipler said I should tell them in a nice way.
     
    What do you think? How should I tell them I changed my mind?

    How do you respond?  When is it okay to work with or for people whose beliefs oppose your own?  Is it okay to take on projects that promote different views?  How should the author tell her clients she has changed her mind?

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  • cute_sushi@xanga
    • From: cute_sushi@xanga
    • Name: cute_sushi
    • About Me: A Christian, Korean-American, introverted girl who doesn't want to have kids. :D My beliefs: Christian, cessationalist, "Calminian", complementarian http://myworld.ebay.com/kagurarox http://myworld.ebay.com/iheartjournals http://www.etsy.com/shop/Aigocham http://www.iheartjournals.xanga.com
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