Typecast for coming from a religious institution?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, as a follow-up to the comment that inspired last Friday's thread on philosophy of religion as an AOS, a reader asks:

I got my PhD from a good program, but it's a religious institution. My advisor works on phil religion, though it's not their only area (and not what they supervised me in).

I've noticed that everywhere I've interviewed for TT either has someone doing phil religion on the faculty, or ends up hiring someone who does phil religion. Meanwhile, heavily secular departments ignore me.

Here's the thing: I am as atheist as I can possibly be. A hardcore naturalist. I think philosophical questions about God are about as interesting as philosophical questions about leprechauns. Am I being typecast, or is it likely coincidence? And if I am being typecast, what can I do about it?

Another reader submitted the following reply:

The religious school affiliation issue cuts both ways - it is an asset when you are applying to jobs that have a religious mission and tradition; it can be an impediment when secular and anti-religious colleagues review you application at non-religious schools (though such behavior may be questionable legally).

Given last week's discussion, it seems like the OP might be typecast, but then again, a lot might depend on what their CV looks like. If, for example, their publication list doesn't focus on religious issues (particularly issues that some search committee members may have biases against), then maybe they won't be typecast. Then again, as the OP says, they seem to be mostly getting interviews at religious institutions or for jobs that focus on religion, not at secular institutions.

So, what can the OP do? Any helpful tips?

Comments

[Prof L]

So the OP is clearly atheist, but is still treated as religious (hence the advantage at religious places and the disadvantage at anti-religious places).

This is very interesting. But I guess this type of stuff is typical of the discipline, and it tells quite a lot about how job searches go.

[Hermias]

In the cover letters to the secular places, just say “btw, am not religious, but went to this program and studied with X because Y”

Cover letters remind me of high schoolers dating; just tell them straight what you want them to know, no need for subtle allusions or covert signals - “how do I tell her!?!?” “bro just tell her”

btw, would love to hear more about your intense interest in leprechauns : )

[Bill Vanderburgh]

This seems likely to be merely a statistical fluctuation, not reflective of an actual bias. Most people get passed over for most jobs, no matter where they got their PhDs. There might be other factors that are more explanatory (perhaps places that teach Phil Religion are more teaching-focused, and OP's cv is a better fit for teaching-focused departments?).

[unfit for it]

When I was first on the market, I was getting first round interviews at a number of religious schools. I was educated at public universities in Canada, but my profile made me look as if I had broad interests, was well educated in the history of philosophy (from Ancient to 19 C. continental), and had a concern for the development of the whole person that such schools like. I AM all that, and more ;) But I was never invited for an on-campus interview at such places. I am thoroughly secular, and an old-fashioned feminist. Fit really matters, both at religious and non-religious institutions.

[Well I Would Walk 1000 Miles to Not Have to Fly 4000 Miles]

Prof L,

Agreed. Also, I've noticed that search committee members, especially the older ones, often assume that your choices were out of passion, rather than e.g. working with someone because it was a requirement of a job or moving to a country because that was the only place you could get a job.

So, I've learned that if I don't want them to think that, I need to be clear.

[Atheistic Div Student]

For reasons that can be unearthed from comments in the last relevant thread (see, e.g. "woman in philosophy"), PhDs from overtly religious institutions will almost definitely be typecast. And it will almost definitely affect their job prospects, at least as I read things. But I know of a couple of cases where this has been overcome, and it was done by directly countering the stereotyping that would otherwise be in place. For example, if you're in a place like South Bend, Indiana, and are getting a PhD at a religious institution, I'd post in prominent places your support for, say, Pete Buttigieg (if true), or something else that shows one your not a pro-life, family values conservative (if you aren't). Or whatever else religious institutions are unjustifiably typecast with -- make sure to prominently refute it. I've seen this work.