It’s all about context. Sometimes “Jewish” means the religion, sometimes it’s the ethnicity (In the US, Eastern European Ashkenazi).
Kosher deli = Kosher certified (Rabbi inspects the place, etc.)
Jewish deli = May or may not be Kosher=certified. doesn’t so much imply religion as “Ashkenazi cuisine”. I’ve seen “Jewish” delis that were owned by non-Jews.
Religious decorations; Meh…
Glurge in company literature/promotional material; Unprofessional and a dealbreaker
Witnessing to me; HIGHLY Unprofessional, and will make me reconsider doing business with said company
Is this coming up because of the pit thread regarding the contraception-free pharmacy?
If the owner’s religious beliefs are going to in some way affect the services I can get at this business (i.e.: Christian pharmacy = no birth control, Jewish Deli = no BLTs, etc.), then it should be posted or advertised somehow so I can decide if I wish to patronise the establishment or not. I won’t necessarily agree with it, and might think you, the owner, are a dipstick for holding a specific religious belief, but it’s your business (in both senses of the term) and no skin off my nose.
I don’t tend to care about the religious beliefs of the people I have commercial relationships with. So, it doesn’t bother me. I’ll just know not to go to the kosher deli for my BLTs.
I don’t appreciate people who wear their religion on their sleeve.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Hobby Lobby is the only craft store in town, I’d probably never go in there, simply for the fact that they close on Sunday so their employees can worship.
Add me to this as well. Obviously if religion is part of it [jewish deli, muslim butchers and oddly enough the chinese herbal healer I used to go to that was a spiritist of some flavor, daoism?] it isnt that big a deal to me, but I won’t willingly patronize [more than once] some place that for example prints bible verses on the coffee cups.
Oddly enough, mrAru and I once joked about opening an ecumenical coffee house, all the napkins and paperwares would be printed with random quotations from all the major religions, a bunch of the minor ones and random philosophers. So you miight get Kant on your coffee cup, the Dalai lama on the napkin and there might be an om iced on the cookie … and the flying spaghetti monster on the little paper plate=)
Would you also extend this to other areas of potential controversy, such as political beliefs, even if you agreed with the sentiment?
I avoid Hobby Lobby for the same reason, and I’ve often wondered how - and IF - they accommodate religious employees who worship on a day other than Sunday. Do they simply avoid hiring Orthodox Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, or are those employees expected to “work something out” with management in order to enjoy something that other employees get without even asking?
I stand by what I said in that previous thread.
The place where I used to get my legs and bikini-line waxed used to blast out dire evangelical pop power ballads, which was irritating but at the same time an effective distraction from the physical pain of waxing.
I recently had a breast biopsy and was told by the doctor’s receptionist that I "must pray to God that it all turns out OK’. Again, irritating and unnecessary, but I appreciated that she meant well.
Our local A&W advertises that kids who recite the Bible verse of the week (published in the local paper as part of their ad) get a free ice cream cone. They are also closed on Sundays. Their sign reads “to allow our employees time for family and worship”.
The second doesn’t bother me; I figure they are shooting themselves in the foot because Sundays are (or were until gas prices went so high) the day that many classic car drivers would cruise around and many would stop in for an old-fashioned root beer at the old-fashioned A&W. But the first makes me feel vaguely uncomfortable, and I sometimes fantasize about quoting a line from a Harry Potter book & asking for my free ice cream cone.
In most cases, I won’t patronize a business that is overtly religious. But that’s not too much of a problem here in New Jersey.
For some reason, religious displays don’t bother me at all if they’re in a mom-and-pop type restaurant. I guess it falls under elmwood’s “the religious expression is part of the religious practices of the owner, and not intended as a means to proselytize” category.
Also, he’s correct about the difference between a Jewish deli and a kosher deli. I’ve heard some places described as “kosher-style,” though I’d think it’s not a great idea to use the k word at all if the establishment is not actually kosher because it might be misinterpereted.
Why only religion? What about the thousand other things? What if the business has a Boston Celtics poster on the wall and you are a Lakers fan?
Then I burn the place to the ground, of course! There are limits, after all.
Same rules…
Having your cube decorated in Green and Yellow and wearing a Packers shirt before the game, cool for you.
“Witnessing” about your sports team (‘we are going to whip your ass!’ ‘Those Packers are the BEST!’) - uncalled for and unprofessional.
I can’t say using the Packers to shill for you is tasteless on the same level as advertising with a Jesus fish, but in both cases, it doesn’t seem like its my business you are courting. However, religious shilling is offensive to me - the non-religious kind just makes me roll my eyes.
How about a business named “Green and Gold [Widgets]”? In this neck of the woods, that’s definitely a Packer shill. I find it kind of sad, really, that they couldn’t come up with an original name, but rather chose to ride on the coattails of a football team. I suppose it’s just generic enough that the Pack can’t come after them for TM infringement. (Have the Packers trademarked the term “Green and Gold”? I can’t be arsed to check, but I doubt it.)
I look at the symbology as an attempt at advertising. The mindset being that the majority of potential customers are Christians, so let’s try to appeal to them. I think they overlook the fact that some potential customers would find it kind of off-putting. Personally, I would avoid that just because I wouldn’t think the loss of those customers would be worth the added “appeal” to others. Overall, that’s just a choice of the business owner. Whether or not it’s a wise choice, it’s not really a big deal to me.
However, if it’s done in a way to persuade the employees to convert, that’s just not right. I wouldn’t want to work in an environment where “someday, we’ll convert Bob” regardless of whether or not “Bob” is me or a coworker.
I’m not a fan of bumper stickers, but I would have to say the “Coexist” one (comprised of various religious symbols) is my favorite. For one, it says nothing about the religious beliefs of the person displaying it, just that they believe that peace is a priority.
They’re called Jewish delis by non-Jews and Kosher delis by Jews. 
Similarly, I have never heard a Jew call rye bread Jewish Rye. Non-Jews? You betcha.
I’d not avoid any business that promimently displayed their religion near the cash register, on the walls, in the window or what have you. I live in America and it doesn’t matter to me what I believe or do not believe. Right up to the moment someone jams a gun into my face to make me believe in their God, I’m good with whatever people want to do.
My two cents
Cartooniverse, raised Jewish and Quaker.
Comes under the “they aren’t appalling to me with that advertising - but it isn’t actually tacky either.” I actually do cross over into offended when people use religion to advertise. Despite not being Christian, I have this image of Jesus throwing moneylenders out of the temple and being less than thrilled about “Good News Roofing and Siding” with the little cross as part of their name.
Now, I’m sure there are more commerce oriented Gods out there, and I can’t comment on using them.
(One of my friends had a green and gold wedding - in Minneapolis - Packer’s Fans).
Is there a betting pool on how long that Sunday thing lasts once 87 year old S. Truett Cathy kicks the bucket? A month? A week? A day?