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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/Key-Needleworker9208 on 2025-09-11 14:41:45+00:00.
Years ago I taught at a religious school (all girls, boarding). It wasn't all out Catholic but more laid back Anglican, so they didn't require you to be members of a church before you could even apply for a job.
When I went for my job interview I was quite concerned that, as an atheist, I'd have problems but the Principal, to her credit was quite laid back. When I asked if I'd be expected to teach religion she looked quite shocked and told me "Goodness NO. We have experts for that!". She even managed to cope with finding out that I was riding a motorbike to work! Shock! Horror! Of course I was careful to not park near the school for the first six months and kept my leathers under my desk.
So years go by and we went through a new Principal and then another. Unfortunately this new one decided that ALL staff had to attend the chapel services at the start of the year and on any pupil free days. I pointed out that I was an atheist and felt that I would be mocking the staff who were truly devout if I attended and pretended to be religious. I point blank refused to take communion.
Eventually she conceded the communion issue but still insisted that I had to attend. So I went to the chaplain, who was a really nice guy and didn't deserve to be disrespected, and explained what was going on and what I'd be doing.
From then on at any services I simply sat in the very back row with headphones on and reading a book. Nothing was said and after six months or so I just stopped going and it was never brought up again. I taught there for over 25 years before retiring. :-)