Met in-person with the 'CEO' and founder. Discussed technical issues and requirements and it was well established that I had more than the required background. The last part was this guy reading me, line for line, the company 'values', which if you want to go review, are all biblical references. Then he asked me which one I related to the most.
Even though he admitted that I had the skills and background needed, and that it has been hard for him to find candidates, he did not make an offer. His excuse was that the pandemic had just hit and he was not hiring, however. He did close the position, but reopened very soon after that. I offered to do contract work in the meantime, but I suspect my experience and skills and the pandemic were not the problem.
The problem was pretty obvious. I am either 'too old', or the more likely reason, I was not overtly religious enough for him. Maybe if I had suggested we pray together on bent knee at the end he might have accepted me. Now I see that he is still looking people with the same experience.
I am not a litigious person, and I certainly don't want to work for someone that doesn't want to work with me, but
it is a horrible way to treat people, and probably not the best way to run your business, legal or not. Like many people, I DO NOT discuss my religious or political beliefs in the context of professional employment. To be fair, this guy had NO idea what my religious values are, and I suspect that not being definitively and openly Christian was the deal killer. Not cool....