Pagan Store Employment

[JustinHesychast]

Yesterday I became unemployed, and I must find a new job. My initial idea was to clean out the storage and sell on eBay, but I am not sure how well that will work out. However, very near to where I live, there is a pagan store, called Green Earth Emporium. They sell many goddess statues, Divine Mother things, Hindu statues, incense, candles, windchimes, some lovely skirts and jewelry, a wide array of Far Eastern things. It's a very warm, calming store with worldwide ethnic music playing. I've been there twice. It's very much a pagan store.

However, no other jobs a 17 year old can get offer such good hours. With school and trying to keep a spiritual life, all places currently hiring would work me until 10PM or later, and would work me on Sunday mornings. I can't be getting home that late, and God only knows my soul cannot suffer a missed Liturgy.

The hours are: 10AM - 8PM Mon - Sat. and 1PM - 6PM on Sunday. Perfect hours!

But. It's a pagan store.

Ask SF. I know. I will.

But what are y'all's thoughts about working in such a store as an Orthodox Christian?

[jckstraw72]

definitely not

[JustinHesychast]

Do you mind elaborating?

It obviously, despite how much I like the store, not a first option. But for any sort of working hours that would be beneficial for my education and spiritual state, it's my only option.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Justin,
I think you know what the reaction of most of us on here would be. I wouldn't even dare ask my SF such a question because I know what he would say about working in such a place! But then, that is just my $.02 worth.

[Matrona]

Depends on how "Pagan" it is. There are a couple of eclectic-hippie stores near me, for example - based on each store's ethos and the types of things they offer, I'd be willing to work at one of them, but not the other.

[JustinHesychast]

It's overtly pagan, Goddess worship, Hindu deities.

I mean, like I said, I know it's not the best place to work, but it's the only one conducive to my education and spiritual wellbeing.

[Matrona]

It's overtly pagan, Goddess worship, Hindu deities.

I mean, like I said, I know it's not the best place to work, but it's the only one conducive to my education and spiritual wellbeing.

Is it specifically a shop intended to promote and facilitate pagan religious practice? If it is, I'm sure your SF will tell you that you shouldn't work there under any circumstances. If it sells statues and stuff more as curiosities rather than religious paraphernalia, though, it might be justifiable under the circumstances.

You'd do best if you searched for other jobs first, though.

[MariaRegina]

It all depends on whether you would have to give advice to customers.

Selling and stocking merchandise perhaps would not be that bad, but learning about the product lines could be dangerous to your faith. Then there is the boss, staff, customers who might try to convert you.

In addition, there may be required times of prayers that would be forbidden you since they are pagan rites. Or you may be called upon to help promote certain pagan items or explain certain pagan practices where these gadgets are used. That would be wrong to do.

I would not accept such a job. It would endanger the faith and give bad example should a parishioner walk into that store.

And you should talk to your spiritual father and share with him your deepest thoughts. Hold nothing back from him because he is the spiritual physician of your soul.

[Andrew21091]

If you are woried about your spiritual life, do not even think about it since all it can do is damage your faith. It may be a "warm" and "calm" environment but that is just a mask of the devil. You will just end up being attracted to such things and it will only make things worse. They promote idol worship which is a serious sin and it only praises the devil. I wouldn't even go near to that type of place because no good can come out of it.

[MariaRegina]

Justing,

You might consider reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, so that you might better understand the insidious ways in which the devil can tempt us.

Working in a pagan place could be frightful and could open pandora's box. Remember, Justin, that you have struggled in the faith and have looked at other religions. Thus, working in that store would not be to your salvation.

Even though I have been an Orthodox Christian for 12 years now, I would not take that job.

[Michael the Iconographer]

It's overtly pagan, Goddess worship, Hindu deities.

I mean, like I said, I know it's not the best place to work, but it's the only one conducive to my education and spiritual wellbeing.

I fail to see how Goddess worship and Hindu deities are conducive to your spiritual wellbeing? Last I checked those things are considered spiritually harmfull and something you must avoid at all costs.

[Michael the Iconographer]

It all depends on whether you would have to give advice to customers.

Selling and stocking merchandise perhaps would not be that bad, but learning about the product lines could be dangerous to your faith. Then there is the boss, staff, customers who might try to convert you.

In addition, there may be required times of prayers that would be forbidden you since they are pagan rites. Or you may be called upon to help promote certain pagan items or explain certain pagan practices where these gadgets are used. That would be wrong to do.

I would not accept such a job. It would endanger the faith and give bad example should a parishioner walk into that store.

And you should talk to your spiritual father and share with him your deepest thoughts. Hold nothing back from him because he is the spiritual physician of your soul.

I fail to see how you can say that selling and stocking statues of Hindu Goddesses would not be "that bad"? The earliest teachings of the Church say that we should avoid all forms of idolatry, and Hindu Goddesses are clearly that.

Didache Ch. 3, V4. My child, regard not omens, for this leads to idolatry; neither be an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a magician, neither wish to see these things, for from them all is idolatry engendered.
http://www.thedidache.com/

[gzt]

No. If it were just some store that also included some of that nonsense, it might possibly be fine if it were completely tangential to the business of the store, but, no.

[MariaRegina]

I fail to see how you can say that selling and stocking statues of Hindu Goddesses would not be "that bad"? The earliest teachings of the Church say that we should avoid all forms of idolatry, and Hindu Goddesses are clearly that.

Michael,

Of course, I agree with you that we should not worship false gods, but Justin was asking for specific information. Notice how I gave him valuable information in such a way as not to hit him over the head.

However, notice that I posted twice that I would not accept that job and then I proceeded to list all the reasons why it would be bad.

Justin asked for specific reasons, and I provided him with that information.

Hope this helps,
Elizabeth


:) :) :) :) :) /Take three./


Dearest Justin,

There is a bookstore in the Los Angeles area called The Psychic Eye. It is run by a Greek proprietor who goes to the local Greek Orthodox Church. Several Greeks parishioners frequent that store to purchase baptismal candles which are then blessed by the priest.

I have never gone into that shop and never plan to do so in the future.

Case in point: Sometime back in 1999, a Greek lady who was suffering from terminal cancer went into that store and bought some herbs to obtain relief. She became possessed by the devil. When Father went to see her in the hospital, she revealed private things that only God would know. Feeling his hair rise, and knowing it was the devil inside her, the Priest said the prayers of exorcism. Fortunately, those prayers were very effective and she only needed them said once. Since she had cancer, she fell asleep in the Lord shortly afterward. The stress caused by the devil did not do her any good.

So, Justin, why take the gamble? Just say, NO.

In Christ,
Elizabeth

[JustinHesychast]

If I say no, then how will I be able to pay for gas, or my car insurance bill due in two weeks?

[MariaRegina]

I should mention that The Psychic Eye is basically a pagan store with all kinds of pagan and new age stuff. And sadly thrown into that mixture are Greek Orthodox Icons and church supplies.

It really gives people a totally wrong impression of Orthodoxy to see a Hindu goddess next to an Icon of the Theotokos.

[MariaRegina]

If I say no, then how will I be able to pay for gas, or my car insurance bill due in two weeks?

Pray and look for another job.

[JustinHesychast]

I've already extensively searched for another job to no avail. All the current job openings for a 17 year old here have hours that aren't right for my schedule or my education.

[cobweb]

Fast food places are almost always hiring.

Major retailers usually want cashiers and cart attendants around this time of year. While you probably would have to work until 10 PM, it is possible to not work Sunday mornings. I never work Sunday mornings and have been working retail for 2 1/2 years.

[Michael the Iconographer]

I've already extensively searched for another job to no avail. All the current job openings for a 17 year old here have hours that aren't right for my schedule or my education.

Justin,
So you would rather work for a store that actively promotes evil over taking less than desirable hours and work for another store?

[JustinHesychast]

It's not "less desirable" hours. It's "the hours would leave me getting home past 10, trying to do homework after work, getting it bed at 12 or 1, getting up at 6 for school, and because of the hours, my already poor prayer life would become nonexistent".

[JustinHesychast]

Fast food places are almost always hiring.

Major retailers usually want cashiers and cart attendants around this time of year. While you probably would have to work until 10 PM, it is possible to not work Sunday mornings. I never work Sunday mornings and have been working retail for 2 1/2 years.

I have worked at Krogers before for quite awhile, and I never would get home til 10 or later, and they would always schedule me on Sunday mornings, despite how much I would ask off. :doh:

[Philothei]

If you are woried about your spiritual life, do not even think about it since all it can do is damage your faith. It may be a "warm" and "calm" environment but that is just a mask of the devil. You will just end up being attracted to such things and it will only make things worse. They promote idol worship which is a serious sin and it only praises the devil. I wouldn't even go near to that type of place because no good can come out of it.:clap::clap::clap:

Worth repeating this solid, sound and mature opinion :)

bravo Andrew!!!!

My words exaclty no need to add more...

[Philothei]

do you have any other department stores around you could work in?

also your local library? or maybe helping volunteering in a hospital until you find something more permanent?

[Michael the Iconographer]

It's not "less desirable" hours. It's "the hours would leave me getting home past 10, trying to do homework after work, getting it bed at 12 or 1, getting up at 6 for school, and because of the hours, my already poor prayer life would become nonexistent".

Justin, do you think you will actually have a prayerlife to the Trinity while working in a store that services Hindu goddesses?

[JustinHesychast]

If I am not drawn to paganism (which will be hard to do), then yes, because I will have decent hours to compliment such a prayer life as well as school.

[Philothei]

Justin, when you sell items you would obviously will have to 'lie' since you yourself do not believe them... Do you realize what would this do to your spiritual life?? Agreeing with the devil so that you can get a paycheck would not be my ideal line of work....blah....

[Protoevangel]

Justin, I think you already know what is right. Problem is, what's right is often hard.

[rainbowbright]

Why don't you try private home duty and work as a home health aid? you don't have to be certified and you could always be a companion. You can apply through a home health agency or find someone through the paper. Usually you can pick out your own hours

[JustinHesychast]

I've never heard of that. What do you mean, rainbow?

[rainbowbright]

A lot of times, an elderly person needs an extra hand and they always love having a young person around to help. Most of the help involves helping them to clean or cook a meal or even just keeping them company. In my experience, it's been very rewarding and I have been able to form everlasting friendships. If you prefer getting your hands dirty, you could always become a CNA (you are old enough) and that involves personal care

[rusmeister]

Like my mother always needs help with the invalid boy she adopted. He has spina bifida, is now 18, and she has raised him since he was 2. But it is very hard on her and she gets a little (probably ought to stress "little") help from (I think it's) a state respite worker, which is probably the same thing as RB's home health aid. Someone who comes home and does necessary minor care and help for someone who can't do a lot of things for themself for several hours at a time.

But otherwise, what PE and Philothei said. And the others. You know what's right. The Biblical injunctions about idols are still relevant today with neo-paganism on the rise everywhere. And if we sell anything, we are promoting it, when we should be condemning it.

The easy thing and the right thing are often not the same.

[Matrona]

Justin, if you have a university or college nearby with a bookstore, they will almost certainly be hiring extra help for the upcoming semester.

[the_Abbot]

I think the home health aide and the CNA idea is the best thing. That's what I did to put myself through college and raise my son as a single father. It's hard, but it is probably better than working at a place that sells pagan goddesses and other items that are contradictory to your religion.

[Julina]

Yesterday I became unemployed, and I must find a new job. My initial idea was to clean out the storage and sell on eBay, but I am not sure how well that will work out. However, very near to where I live, there is a pagan store, called Green Earth Emporium. They sell many goddess statues, Divine Mother things, Hindu statues, incense, candles, windchimes, some lovely skirts and jewelry, a wide array of Far Eastern things. It's a very warm, calming store with worldwide ethnic music playing. I've been there twice. It's very much a pagan store.

However, no other jobs a 17 year old can get offer such good hours. With school and trying to keep a spiritual life, all places currently hiring would work me until 10PM or later, and would work me on Sunday mornings. I can't be getting home that late, and God only knows my soul cannot suffer a missed Liturgy.

The hours are: 10AM - 8PM Mon - Sat. and 1PM - 6PM on Sunday. Perfect hours!

But. It's a pagan store.

Ask SF. I know. I will.

But what are y'all's thoughts about working in such a store as an Orthodox Christian?
i haven't read any of the posts on here (but i will after i post this and maybe i'll change my mind :blush:) but i'd say that working in a pagan store doesn't make you a pagan, kind of like my having a Buddha statue in my room doesn't make me a Buddhist. people who shop at the store might be pagan, so maybe you could strike up some interesting conversations with them

[Dorothea]

If I am not drawn to paganism (which will be hard to do), then yes, because I will have decent hours to compliment such a prayer life as well as school.
If you think it will be hard not to be drawn to paganism, then why put yourself in such a predicament? And working so many hours a day at a job that has that influence will only hamper your spiritual growth in Orthodoxy. I don't see any way that this would be a good thing, Justin. My first job was at Burger King. You could work at fast food part time. Just a suggestion.

[Dorothea]

The suggestions about working as a home health aide sounds very good.

[JustinHesychast]

I am not sure how I would be able to go about being a home health aide, though. But yes, it does sound like a good alternative. :)

[rusmeister]

i haven't read any of the posts on here (but i will after i post this and maybe i'll change my mind :blush:) but i'd say that working in a pagan store doesn't make you a pagan, kind of like my having a Buddha statue in my room doesn't make me a Buddhist. people who shop at the store might be pagan, so maybe you could strike up some interesting conversations with them
Put it another way, Julina. What if I go work in an abortion clinic? That doesn't make me guilty of murder, but it does make me an accessory to the fact. If I am in a business that helps, encourages paganism then I am, even if only passively, supporting something that opposes, opposes my Faith. That represents lies that lead to hell. That is spiritual murder. Similarly, keeping Buddhist statues around, passively, follows the same principle. Of course, it doesn't 'make you a Buddhist'. But it is pretty much the same thing as flying the flag of an enemy nation in time of war.

The thing to do is to read the Biblical (yes, NT, too) injunctions on paganism and idols, and to discover what all of the early Church fathers say to do with idols - like, destroy them, not sell them.

[rainbowbright]

Kind of an ot question, but was I wrong to throw out my husband's Buddha statue? He also has one of Genesh and I think I threw that out as well.

Anyways, Justin, to become a home health aide, you can apply at an agency- usually they have a name like comfortcare. You can look them up online to find one locally.. You can also look in the paper or ask a hospital or a nursing home. If you need help, I can help out some- I've been a CNA for 7 years now and I know how to get around.

[JustinHesychast]

Thanks rainbow, I will start looking.

And I think Buddha statues are OK. Buddhism isn't a religion, and Buddha was a great person. However, any actual idols, such as the statue of Ganesh (my favorite Hindu god), should indeed be thrown out.

[rusmeister]

Thanks rainbow, I will start looking.

And I think Buddha statues are OK. Buddhism isn't a religion, and Buddha was a great person.
:scratch:
If you mean that Buddhism doesn't have established form worship, you are right. If you mean that it doesn't teach the way to live and be saved, you are wrong. In that sense it is most certainly a religion, and that is the sense we are concerned with.

Also, how do you define a great person? What is meant by 'great'?

[MichaelArchangelos]

Kind of an ot question, but was I wrong to throw out my husband's Buddha statue? He also has one of Genesh and I think I threw that out as well.

Throwing out a statue of Ganesh? IS OUTRAGE!!

[Protoevangel]

Throwing out a statue of Ganesh? IS OUTRAGE!!
Exactly. It should be properly disposed of... Tossed into a pile of pig manure.