Print 
PDF
You are 26% less likely to get the job if your resume indicates you are religious.
That's stunning, given the fact that this nation was founded by Christians upon Christian values and principles. Our freedoms and rights in America are recognized in our Founding Documents as being from our "Creator."
Why can't I be religious and get the job?
Sociologists at the University of Connecticut sent out 3200 fake resumes of fictitious recent college graduates that either listed participation in a campus ministry or a non-religious club.
Then they recorded which resumes received responses, and what kind of responses were received from employers.
The study's authors recorded which resume received response from employers, and whether the responses were made via email or phone.
A resume that got a phone call was seen as being more valuable to the employer.
Of the 14% of "applicants" that were contacted by at least one employer, "religious" applicants were 26% less likely to hear back at all, 24% less likely to receive emails and 30% less likely to receive phone calls.
Of the fictitious applicants who heard back from more than one employer, those with a religious affiliation on their resume received 31% fewer contacts, 29% fewer emails and 33% fewer phone calls than those in the control group without religious affiliation.
These resumes were sent to employers near large Southern US cities, however, researchers also conducted a nearly identical study a year ago in large Northern US cities with only slightly different results.
Resumes with religious affiliation sent to employers in the Northeast received 25% less phone calls, but there was no significant difference in the number of emails received.
Despite the geographic differences, results from both studies show an increased effort to "privatize" religion, particularly the Christian faith----and remove any expression of it from the public square.
The new secular norm advanced by secular progressives, is that religious beliefs are private and although you may practice them in a church building, you must not do so in public.
In the past couple of years we have seen a violent attack on military personnel---particularly in the Air Force, for simply sharing their faith in Jesus Christ with their peers.
They have been labeled as "proselytizing" while action has been taken against them, often jeopardizing their military career.
Students K- college have been confronted and silenced for expressing their faith in Jesus Christ or even referencing biblical quotes in public education. We saw it during this past graduation time and will see it again this coming Christmas season.
Every effort is made to destroy the businesses of owners who believe in traditional marriage and the sanctity of life.
We've seen the merciless attacks on Hobby Lobby, Conestoga, the Benham brothers, Chick-fil-A, Duck Dynasty and anyone else who believes in the biblical model of marriage and the sanctity of life---the list is long.
And here locally we've seen the Stormans family in Olympia attacked by the state, Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry because they believe in the sanctity of life and won't sell abortion pills in their pharmacy.
Arlene's Flowers and Gifts in Richland is being litigated by the state. Barronelle Stutzman, the owner, told me personally that her legal advisers have told her the battle to save her business will cost at least $500,000 and take at least 5 years.
Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, Oregon was owned and operated by a married couple who believes marriage is only between one man and one woman. The state of Oregon is investigating them because of what they believe and the fact that they could not in good conscience provide services for a same-sex "wedding." Now they have been forced out of business and are working out of their home selling their baked goods online.
It's not surprising that now some employers are discriminating against Christians simply because they are "religious."
What now? "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong" (I Corinthians 16:3).
Today I'm talking about standing strong in the faith in these challenging times on our live radio program.
Join me from anywhere in the world live at 9 AM PDT or rebroadcast at 7:30 PM PDT. Here's how.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Strong. Be Bold. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.
