Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
A judging back instead of a helping hand
My ex-girlfriend has a blog in which she talks about life, atheism, environmentalism, and whatever strikes her fancy. Although Kian's an atheist, she used to counsel at a Christian camp called Kenesserie for several summers in a row, saying she was on a faith journey (which to my understanding she was, at least the first few years). But here is what Kenesserie Camp did when one of its board members found out she was an atheist:
A board member of the camp Brian Cofell had googled the camps name and came across one of my older blogs. One I wouldn't want people to read now because it was more or less a ranting page. However, in the summer of 2004 I had made a post containing the word 'Kenesserie' so it appeared on about page 10 of the googled pages. On the blog is said that I didn't believe in God, and I was told there was other 'explicit' language. Probably the word fuck, because I don't really use the word lightly.
Because of this blog I was declined my position at camp. I understood, and wasn't too upset knowing that going to UVIC was going to take more than the $0.64/hour we were paid out there. But the more I thought about it, the more it irritated me. Instead of reaching out to someone who had been a faithful part of their team for over 11 years, the camp had snubbed me. I talked to my step dad about it, (he is a minister) and he said he was under the impression that the United Church was there to help people in their faith journey, not turn them away.
Honestly, I'm not so sure it's the wrong decision to turn people away based on religion. But what the same camp director did after finding out about Kian's post was inexcusable. He called her on the phone, threatening to sue her for slander unless she took the post down. Although what she said was the complete truth - another counselor told her earlier that she (Kian) wasn't hired because she wasn't Christian - he steadfastly denied it.
I don't know if there's anyone here living in southern Ontario, but if there is, please let as many people as possible know that Kenesserie Camp promotes religious intolerance and then lies about it in a flimsy attempt to intimidate people. If you have a blog, then please link to this post about Kenesserie Camp - right now it's third on Google on Kenesserie and Kenesserie Camp, and I'm trying to make it first.
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It greatly saddens me that
It greatly saddens me that something like Kenesserie is being attacked in this manner. I don't know Kian, but like her, I have been involved in the camp for many years. It would seem that all the facts are not known and it is one person's word versus another and the comments of another staff member who would not be privy to the reasoning behind the decision not to hire someone for the summer staff.
A little bit of research would lead to the realization that the United Church of Canada is one of, if not the most liberal and accepting of all organized denominations in this country. One of the biggest focusses of the church and the camp is to challenge and discuss and debate all issues regarding beleif in God. We are not a "FIRE and BRIMSTONE" "eternal damnation" kind of religion on the whole. (yes, if you look hard enough I'm quite certain you will find some fringe element just like any other group) We do not condemn people because their belifs don't match with ours, and in many cases our outreach is directed to help people that many religions have shunned. After all, we live in Canada, the greatest nation on earth, and our rights to our beliefs and cultures are the key to our success.
With all the good this camp has done over the years it seems unfortunate that something like this would encourage people to attack the whole operation. A google search also shows the many people who have written regarding the positive experiences and influences the camp has had on them either personally or spiritually. It would seem that the camp played a role in Kian finding what she believes to be the truth on her spiritual journey. Based on her comments regarding poor pay and overwork I would have to question what is really behind the rhetoric she is putting forward. It seems there may be more to the story on both sides. I wish Kian the best and I hope she is able to find happiness over the summer and success next school year.
What does "liberal" mean, anyway?
The number of liberal American Christians who have no trouble reconciling their supposed liberalism with hatred of atheists on both the personal and the political level is simply staggering. I can only assume that it's the same in Canada, since the few cross-country observations I've made suggest that the hardcore religious people are the same in every country.
One thing that Kian didn't mention in public is that the person who threatened to sue must have known the exact reason she wasn't hired. In the threatening phone call, he said he'd talked to the person who made the hiring decisions and who earlier told Kian she wouldn't be hired this summer based on her religion. If he didn't know, it's because he chose not to know.
I think you're overestimating Kenesserie's influence on Kian. For her, the religious element of the camp was never particularly important. She was there for the people and the atmosphere, not the spirituality. I don't know the full details of her deconversion story, but what I know suggests that it had nothing to do with the camp.
About the low pay thing, I don't know what's standard in Canadian summer camps, but it makes a lot of sense that it'll be low. It includes room and board, so the camp can pay far less than a counselor could make even after subtracting rent, utilities, and food, simply because it looks more attractive.
So accepting...
They may appear to be an 'accepting' part of the church, but being the daughter of a minister, I get to see beneath all of that. Sure, the United Chruch of Canada says they allow gay marriage, but then look in the fine print... The congergation has to decide for their minister whether or not they want a gay marriage to be preformed in their church. It's totally hypocrisy and contradictions all over.
My first conversation with the leader of the camp, was that I was not being hired because of a blog that said I was atheist. What was I supposed to assume? That there were other reasons? How could I have when that is what I was told? There was ZERO outreach to me. None.
You can't expect there to only be clear blue skies over a place that's not perfect...and if you're really as involved with the camp as you say you are, then you know how much crap has gone on there in the past 4 years. TONS. So many people have done so many horrible things and not gotten punished for it.
Alon is right, although the camp really helped me at the time iwth my spirituality, it was not the only reason I was out there. I was there mostly for the social experience of it all.
The money issue was nothing to me. I didn't care that I wasn't getting paid anything. I knew that they were housing me and feeding me all summer...and it was a freaking blast. Also - I'm not doubting that people have said great things about the camp. I have too. Like I said, it holds some of my greatest memories, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to turn a blind eye to the crap that the board is pulling.