Religious Conflicts

[msimon785]

As a Jew, I have always encountered this problem. In the past, I have stayed in a hotel by the regional. Of course, you do need to make compromises. I don't know much about Adventist practices, though, so this may not remedy much.

[iblis432]

It depends on your conviction, but I know that I personally view my work in FIRST as a way of honoring God. I don't do it in benefit of man, but I see the events as a way to worship, and I thank God for giving me that day to meet with my fellow man and enjoy the life God gave to me.

Just my two cents, I know certain religions have stricter specifications regarding how you worship on certain days.

Idea! Are you allowed to "help" other people on your day of rest? If so, you can help your team mates in the pits, or help other teams in the pits. Maybe even volunteer, so you can still be at the event, and see the action!

[nathannfm]

This was before my time but I have heard stories where the MOE drive team drove an Israeli robot for one of the days at nationals because the team could not. It seems like this would be a recurring problem, do they usually just not compete that day?

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by nathannfm

This was before my time but I have heard stories where the MOE drive team drove an Israeli robot for one of the days at nationals because the team could not. It seems like this would be a recurring problem, do they usually just not compete that day?

Last year at Championship there were several teams helping team 3358 (Y.T.P.T. JETS) Friday night to Saturday at Championship -- MOE added a minibot deploy, 357's Michael Crane took the lead mentor role, Danielle Sisk (Dean's List Finalist from 2493) was student team leader, and we served as drivers and pit crew.

[RoboMaster]

Wow, this is an interesting thread. As a Christian* I suppose I would make an exception for a big event on Sunday. But, for example, while traveling home from a regional, I would try to bring a Bible or devotional to study so that the day has an aspect of reverence.

I also have faith-based reasons for participating in FIRST Robotics. I firmly believe that God has given me gifts and opportunities for pursuing a career and livelihood in engineering, so I want to thank him, utilize those gifts, and ultimately make his glorification the focus of my work. I think it is amazing that when he made this universe he created the means and structure for intellectual ideas and mechanisms that we can create, use for good, and appreciate.



*Evangelical, i.e. Baptist, etc.

[GaryVoshol]

There have been instances of people organizing a Seder for people from various teams when Passover fell during the Championships. We tried very hard to accommodate the dietary restrictions of one of our Jewish team members.

However, FIRST does not mesh very well with strict religious observances. They try; as was noted, the Israel regional avoids both the Jewish and Muslim observances.

But then, there are a lot of other events, such as sports, that do not make it easy to follow your religious practices. As with the rest of life, you have to choose what things you can do and still be true to your beliefs.

[MichaelBick]

Being part of a Conservative, Jewish High School is hard for our team. We don't have meetings on fridays or saturdays, so we lose 2/7ths of the days other teams have. We have to make exceptions for competition, though the school still has problems with us going to competitions. Usually, we have to have one of our Rabbi's come in, so that we can make preparations to still remember the sabbath, even in the heat of competition. Still, there are advantages to being a Jewish team. At finals last year, we sent over people to talk to the Israeli teams in Hebrew. Also, we were the first US team to go to an Israeli regional.

[Foster]

For what it's worth our VEX league this year we had a Sunday session at the Jewish High School in Philadelphia. They wanted to have the finals at their school, but the teams from the Christian Schools didn't want to come on a Sunday.

So we waited until 1 hour after sundown on Saturday night and held the first Night-time VEX tournament. Upside, everyone played. Downside, we didn't get done until 11PM.

So a little creativity goes a long way.

[mom1155]

The NYC Regional is Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Some advantages are that teams only miss 1 day of school, not 2 and that people who worship on Saturday or Sunday, can participate 1 day.

[Nathan Streeter]

Originally Posted by mom1155

The NYC Regional is Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Some advantages are that teams only miss 1 day of school, not 2 and that people who worship on Saturday or Sunday, can participate 1 day.

Perhaps I'm just missing something, but I don't see how a Friday -> Sunday regional would be an improvement... For those who worship on Saturdays, you still miss one day of competition. For those who worship on Sundays, you now miss one day instead of none! From that perspective it's clearly not an improvement.

But, as you said, it means most people need only miss one day of school and one day of work... While it is good to minimize the amount of days missed from school or work, comparing one day at school/work to one day at competition isn't comparing apples to oranges.

It's fairly easy to take a day off of school to go to a co-curricular event and employers are usually quite understanding about taking a day off to work with your team at a Robotics event! Extremely few people are omitted from a Thursday -> Saturday event for employment/education reasons. By contrast, those that have their day of worship on Saturday or Sunday are asked to put a day of a competition above worshiping God... Some teams, as a result, are not able to attend competition on either the second day or on the third day, which clearly puts you out of the running for success on the field.

Originally Posted by MarcD79

FIRST does its best to accommodate on the large scale. It has to appease the majority, not minority.

While this definitely has been true, it seems hard to say this would remain true if more regionals switch to a Friday -> Sunday schedule, where people of almost any religion are asked to skip worshiping God that weekend.

[RoboMaster]

Originally Posted by mom1155

The NYC Regional is Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Some advantages are that teams only miss 1 day of school, not 2 and that people who worship on Saturday or Sunday, can participate 1 day.

mom1155, you appear to be a planner of this regional. It's interesting to have you participate in this discussion and see your reasoning for this plan, thank you. You said that people who worship on Saturday or Sunday can participate 1 day. But they would be able to participate 2 days each, Fri and Sun or Fri and Sat. Could you clarify more what you meant, and how this is an advantage?

[gixxy]

Thankfully the one day my Teacher sponsor will not plan a meeting is Sunday, otherwise There would be some conflict. I do not consider Robotics work, not that I stick to that rule in the first place.

In the event we did have a Sunday Meeting. I would go, but not until I went to mass and had communion first. Otherwise I would feel very shamed.

I fully understand your stance, and agree that your beliefs should come first.

My view as an Episcopalian.

[TechLizzy16]

Sorry but that isn't even allowed. :/ My "holy day" is kind of like my date with God. I focus my attention on him.

[TechLizzy16]

Thank you everyone for all of your wonderful insights and opinions. Feel free to continue on posting. My team won the Traverse City District Competition yesterday and this is their second year in the FRC. I am praising God for allowing this. I am disappointed I didn't receive a medal, but at the same time I know that God wanted me to be at home resting and worshiping him.