Owners of businesses expressing their religious beliefs

In My Humble Opinion
61

My church passes out the “Good Shepard Yellow Pages” (I think that’s what it’s called) and it is a directory of Christian owned and operated businesses. Car mechanics, hair dressers, dog groomers, and escort services (not really) are all advertised just like the regular yellow pages, yet each business is owned and/or operated by a Christian.

Now, I don’t know how they vet the advertisers, or if they just take their word for it, but it is what it is. I guess I could see SOME of the point. If you are looking for a car mechanic, and you don’t know the guy, but he is a Christian, maybe he subscribes to the “do unto others” mantra and won’t rip you off.

I asked one of the deacons about it, and he is of the opinion that as Christians we should do our best to support other Christians in their business endeavors. I don’t agree with that necessarily.

If it is important religiously, then fine. If I need a Bible study guide, then I would probably go to a Christian book store where the owner could provide a recommendation, etc.

But something like a dog groomer? Who cares what religion the owner is? To paraphrase Archie Bunker, I’m not bigoted at all in that respect. I don’t care if the guy’s a chink as long as he can get the job done…

62

A co-worker is nuts about Obama. When he and Hillary were going at it (and there’s a mental image to brightened your day), he started in on supporting Obama. I told him in no uncertain terms that I was supporting Hillary and that was that. He never mentioned the topic again.

“No” means “no,” and once a person says it, back off.

63

[QUOTE=gaffa]
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?
[/QUOTE]

Considering the interview with the heir to the business that my denomination’s magazine recently ran, I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes another generation.

To Trad_C: It doesn’t bother me at all. I’m not hyper-sensitive.

64

[QUOTE=jtgain]

…
I asked one of the deacons about it, and he is of the opinion that as Christians we should do our best to support other Christians in their business endeavors. I don’t agree with that necessarily.

…

[/QUOTE]

This is where, as a non-Christian, I start to wonder if that is really the code and the motivation - and then I start to avoid those businesses - because I know that when they are looking for a roofer, they won’t hire my roofing company (I don’t own a roofing company and am a cog in Corporate America, but its the principle of the thing). Why should I give someone my business who won’t give me a chance to reciprocate on price or quality, but will instead give his business to someone because they go to the same church?

If Christians are doing their best to support other Christians, then maybe the rest of us have some sort of obligation to support secular businesses, or we won’t be able to run businesses - they’ll all be Christian businesses.

65

[QUOTE=aerodave]

Even mentioning religion has no place in normal religious transaction, unless you’re buying a Bible or something.
[/QUOTE]

Come again? I think you might be tongue-tied.

66

Haha…I can’t believe I didn’t notice until now. Even more, i can’t believe no one else did.

Of course I meant to say “normal business transaction”.

67

[QUOTE=elmwood]
“Jesus Is Coming Soon Towing And Wrecking”
[/QUOTE]
Can you pre-arrange towing services in the event of the Rapture? :slight_smile:

To the OP, I pretty much agree with elmwood’s list – and would add that the 3rd and 4th categories are so unusual here (NZ) that I’d be seriously weirded-out to encounter them… in the US… not so much. :slight_smile:

68

[QUOTE=Cartooniverse]
Cartooniverse, raised Jewish and Quaker.
[/QUOTE]

What’s the guideline on the oats of your people?

69

It’s a little known fact that all the major cable companies are Fundamentalist Christian.

[sub]Mt 25:13[/sub]

70

I, too, avoid the religious-based businesses. Not so much those who are simply closed on Sunday, but those who actively witness their religious beliefs in my face as I’m attempting to conduct a business transaction. Slipping a Chick Tract in my monthly invoice, for example.

I refused to “wear” the Indiana state-sponsored license plate with the sentiment “In God We Trust” because the license branch is not the place to witness a person’s Christianity. Fortunately, the state also offered a very nice, but ugly, alternative plate which is now on my car.

I currently work with a woman that has “God is in control” on her IM “status” which stares at me all. day. long. She has a long history of making bad choices in her marriage to an addict/ I want to shake her by the shoulders and say, “God isn’t in control, dummy. YOU are in control of your actions and decisions”.

71

[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]
It’s a little known fact that all the major cable companies are Fundamentalist Christian.
[/QUOTE]

Heh…I laughed. :smiley:

72

If it says kosher-style, it isn’t kosher. Those are just the standard weasel words for companies that don’t want to spend the money or time to make a kosher product.

A Jewish deli and and kosher deli are usually different things, at least in the USA. The kosher deli is usually Jewish, but the Jewish deli is rarely kosher.

73

Unless the service being offered is particularly related to religion, or has some kind of strong, overt and essential ethical/moral facet, I tend to avoid it, even though I am not an atheist myself.

When I hire a plumber, I want to know he’s a good plumber. Mentioning that he’s a pious member of even the same denomination of the same religion as me is at best irrelevant and at worst, may be an attempt to compensate for lack of merit in the area that really matters for the job - the actual business of fixing my pipes.

74

Here in Northeast/North Central Ohio, where there is a large Amish community, there is an overwhelming perception that the Amish are not only highly moral and ethical, they are far and away the best craftspeople and artisans. The ads for “Amish-made furniture” and “Amish-built houses” are everywhere. I went to a charity auction a few years ago and looked at some Amish-made quilts, and let me tell you, they weren’t all that well made. Uneven stitching, mismatched corners.

That said, my husband and I recently bought some furniture, and after doing a considerable amount of shopping, we did end up buying from an Amish-owned store. The saleswoman and designer were Amish, and so, we assume, were the carpenters. Do we care about the religion of the people who built our furniture? No, we do not. We bought there because they offered a good selection, quality materials and a fair price.

The only indications of their religion were their manner of dress and the fact that their store didn’t have a direct phone but an answering machine; they’d return calls if you left a message.

75

[QUOTE=Mangetout]
When I hire a plumber, I want to know he’s a good plumber. Mentioning that he’s a pious member of even the same denomination of the same religion as me is at best irrelevant and at worst, may be an attempt to compensate for lack of merit in the area that really matters for the job - the actual business of fixing my pipes.
[/QUOTE]
I’m reminded of the episode of “Ellen” where she needed to hire a plumber and hired one out of the “Gay Yellow Pages” rather than her father’s old friend. The young gay plumber turned out to be incompetent, so she called her father’s friend – who turned out to be gay.

76

[QUOTE=Suse]
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.
[/QUOTE]

I’ve told this story on the board before, but back when I was in college I needed a part for my dishwasher. I found a nice little business in the yellow pages; when I checked out their website, they went above and beyond to mention what good Christians they are. They also featured a Bible verse on their page that you could recite for an extra 10% discount. I ended up purchasing the part from eBay and repairing the dishwasher myself.

I’m very wary of anyone who insists on going out of their way to tell me about their faith, especially if that person is trying to sell me something. And the whole concept of “recite this verse and get a discount/free product” is nothing more than bribing another person into your beliefs. Does that count as witnessing or something? And do they honestly think the average kid is going to take up religion just because of a free ice cream cone? I also think it’s a bit odd when any religious symbol is used to sell a non-related business – fish symbols stamped all over a plumber’s yellow pages ad, for example. Am I supposed to believe that one plumber is better than another just because he loudly declares himself to be a Christian?

77

[QUOTE= Jeep’s Phoenix]
I’m very wary of anyone who insists on going out of their way to tell me about their faith, especially if that person is trying to sell me something.
[/QUOTE]

To be honest, me too. Your first qualification should be that you can do the job and your second that you’ll do it for a reasonable price. We can talk about “fuzzy” reasons for me to patronize your business after having established that.

[QUOTE= Jeep’s Phoenix]
And the whole concept of “recite this verse and get a discount/free product” is nothing more than bribing another person into your beliefs.
[/QUOTE]

Nah, it’s more like bribing someone into taking a look at my beliefs.

[QUOTE= Jeep’s Phoenix]
Does that count as witnessing or something?
[/QUOTE]

It does. We gotta spread the Word. Nowhere did Christ say “Offer ye not a loss-leader when thou spreadest My Word.” Nor did he ever say “Incentivize ye not the Gentiles when thou speakest, that they may only come to Me in ways of My devising.” Mainly because Aramaic didn’t have words like “loss-leader” and “incentivize,” as far as I know. :smiley:

[QUOTE= Jeep’s Phoenix]
And do they honestly think the average kid is going to take up religion just because of a free ice cream cone?
[/QUOTE]

No, but that’s not the point. The point is to get the kid to pick up a Bible or learn a lesson with the discount as incentive. Hey, ya gotta make learning fun, the best efforts of Sister Mary Ruler-swing notwithstanding.

[QUOTE= Jeep’s Phoenix]
I also think it’s a bit odd when any religious symbol is used to sell a non-related business – fish symbols stamped all over a plumber’s yellow pages ad, for example.
[/QUOTE]

That is kind of odd, but it probably has its uses among certain demographics.

[QUOTE= Jeep’s Phoenix]
Am I supposed to believe that one plumber is better than another just because he loudly declares himself to be a Christian?
[/QUOTE]

Do you actually believe that? Does the same apply to house painting? Because I am a devout Christian- as devout as the day is long- and I got me this Jesus-Matic Invisi-Shield clear-application house-sanitizing super paint. One coat! Dries instantly! And I will come apply it to your house for seven thousand dollars (seven being a number holy in God’s eyes)! I’ll even do it at night- you’ll never even know I was there- heck, you’d swear I wasn’t! Just wire me the money and I’ll do it the night I receive payment! Jesus Jesus Jesus!

Whaddya say? :smiley:

78

[QUOTE=nashiitashii At least there wasn’t something like [this]
(http://www.utilitarianism.com/jesus-christ.jpg) staring down at me. Yecch.
[/QUOTE]

What about this instead?

(Why isn’t my link working?)

79

Missed edit window-when I posted it, I had all the codes correct-da’hell?

try again.

80

[QUOTE=Guinastasia]
Missed edit window-when I posted it, I had all the codes correct-da’hell?

try again.
[/QUOTE]

I want one of these.

I put toy dinosaurs in our Manger Set, also Xena, Winnie the Pooh, Dora & friends. I’m also looking for a little Frankenstein.

To those against religious displays at a business, does it matter if there’s any light-heartendness or whimsy about it- like if it was a Buddy Christ statue?