A one-time construction company employee who objected to attending mandatory Bible studies has sued his former employer for $800,000, claiming he lost his job after refusing to attend any longer.

Albany, Oregon house painter Ryan Coleman sued Joel Dahl of Dahled Up Construction, alleging that Dahl fired him after Coleman quit going to the studies after six months. Led by a local pastor, the hour-long sessions meet at a homeless shelter in Albany. 

The lawsuit said Dahl overstepped his bounds and broke the law. Both men are ex-convicts; Dahl told Portland TV station KATU he likes giving people like himself a second chance.

“I’m Native American and Christianity’s just not my thing,” Coleman told Fox News. “It’s religious discrimination. He wrongfully terminated me because of my religious beliefs.” 

However, Dahl said in an interview with KATU that the real reason for Coleman’s dismissal would be brought up in court, with Dahl’s attorney saying he expects the case to go to trial.

“I’ve never tried to say you need to believe in God or you have to pray to God,” Dahl said.