WDT - 12/19 - Avoiding Religious Companies

I know it's quite a bit after you wrote this, but I sympathize with your question. It's difficult where I live, which is rural east Texas--not many choices without driving a considerable distance (1 hour+).

For us, it is often a matter of making choices. When we are ordering pizza, we have a choice, so we don't go to Papa John's (ever). I've never personally shopped at Hobby Lobby, and I don't really support the Salvation Army. However, the others are far more difficult to avoid.

There are only 2 restaurants in town (and the next town) that have play areas, and those are McDonald's and Chick-Fil-A. There are no indoor play areas for our children on rainy days besides those restaurants and a church, so we have choices to make. There is the Children's Museum that is over 30 minutes away that we can visit, but that is not open at night and is not set up for you to just let your children "go". So, my husband and I talked about it when Chick-Fil-A came to our town. We largely feel that we are primarily supporting the franchise owner, and the CEO less so, but it does hurt my heart every time we go there.

Our son is a cub scout, and my husband is the den leader. He was a boy scout growing up and loved the camaraderie. Because my husband is the den leader, he has the option of leading in the way he sees fit. In the leader guide, there are secular options whenever a religious component arises, so he has always taken the secular route with the den. Many times, the boys have an activity they are supposed to do at home, in which case, their families get to decide how they want to proceed. There are a few specifically religious badges, but they are not nearly at that point yet.

Are there any businesses, companies, organizations, etc. that you specifically avoid or no longer patronize due to their religious affiliations?

Any church but especially the Catholic Church, Hobby Lobby, Chick-Fil-A, Papa John, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, and any other organization that advertises their hate is put on my I don't support you list.

It's kind of funny what the bible teaches and how many religious folk act in their daily lives. If their Jesus came back to earth I think many would be surprised on where they were headed.

I avoid any company that feels that they need to include religion on their advertising, websites, etc. Such as, I was searching for a new doctor, I received a referral from a friend but checked out the office's website only to find scripture there. Nope!

Companies are not people. People can believe how they want and worship how they want. Companies don't get this right. People and companies are separate, by definition and law, and for-profit businesses should not be forcing religion on people or be able to discriminate based on the management's religious views, IMO.

IRELANDSIS,

The problem is those companies in question take their profits and invest them in causes that actively undermine the secular aspects of our nation. Every time you buy something from them, your money goes towards their religious cause. The two companies you named are quite open about their beliefs, their causes, and their involvement in making the US a more "Christian Nation."

I believe firmly in the notion that all people have the fundamental right to believe and act according to their convictions. However, I will not knowingly hand over my money to companies or individuals who I know are going to take the money they earn, and turn it into policies that undermine the secular nature of the US.

You can of course act as you please, but your actions have consequences.

Edited by: LILLIPUTIANNA at: 1/11/2015 (13:33)

Old topic, but I wanted to respond. :) I love a good Chik-fil-a sandwich although I don't have a restaurant close to my home, and when I visit my Mom in another state, she enjoys taking me to all the thrift stores in town, and that includes the Salvation Army store in her town. Often I can find plus-size clothing for less than half of what it would cost me at Walmart or Kmart (stores my budget also allows) and fantastic old books for a dollar or less. My town also just got a Hobby Lobby. I haven't been in there, but I've seen what Michael's offers in my town, and since I know I need to put together a nice silk arrangement of flowers to put on my Dad's grave this Spring and keep it within budget, I'll likely be walking in there to see if they have something in their Grand Opening sales that will work. My Walmart store also sells flowers, but I find that one good rainstorm and the petals fall off the stems which seems like a waste of my money.

Do I agree with everything that their owners and management believe at Hobby Lobby and the other stores? No. But then again, I don't walk into any restaurant or business and yell out, "Ok...before I order or shop here...I want to know exactly where everyone in here stands on religion...and gay rights...and civil rights...and the city panhandlers...and recycling....and living green...and Common Core, and the new Affordable Healthcare Program...and global warming!"

My dentist has statues of Buddha right in his office...and if he moved that office, I'd follow him within a reasonable driving distance. Why? Because he's a good person and does a good job and plainly put: He's the first dentist in over 40 years of life who hasn't scared me and made me want to stay away from good dental care.

So, I guess on this topic, while I don't like people to shove their religious beliefs in my face or treat me as if I'm broken because I no longer believe, I'm also not going to be upset if someone wishes me a "blessed day" or tells me "God Loves you" or hands me a bag with a bible verse on it. I just smile and say, "Thanks" and go about my day. Now, if they handed me the bag, pointed to the bible verse and began reciting it to me...then I might stop them and say politely, "Please stop. I know the bible, and I'm a non-believer. Have a wonderful day, though" and then go about my day. Eat the sandwich, stuff the wrapper in the bag, and toss the bag in the bin. Done.

I guess just as much as I don't want people to tell me what to believe, I'm also not going to tell others what they can believe.

I don't give to the SA anymore and I grew up HAVING to give almost every time we heard a ringing bell.
I donate my clothes to the outpatient treatment center I belong to. The other women and there kids need the stuff. I'm starting to get rid of some of my 'fat' clothes lol

The Salvation Army takes federal funding yet discriminates against gays and lesbians and politically has fought against laws to protect GLBT from discrimination in the workplace. That is enough for me to not to give bell ringers any of my hard earned money.

I would probably donate clothing to the Salvation Army because the people who end up getting it are probably needy and can use an inexpensive source, so I would not feel bad about doing that.

Wow there's a salvation army around the block from me. I donate my clothes there all the time. I didnt realize it was such a problematic organization.

WDT: Weekly Discussion Topic is my guess. Why this has to be official is beyond me. Smacks of a religious mindset, frankly.

As for the Salvation Army, I always figured that they wanted me to stay away - that ringing bell gives me a headache. So I never got close enough to realize it was a religious organization.

It's hard to 100% boycott religious organizations, but I try. I also boycott organizations that are most notoriously unfair to workers (I am not rich but I can afford to boycott Wal-Mart).

20 years ago I used to walk by the Salvation Army people with a nod and a smile but I would not contribute. Now I am much more likely to avert my eyes.

Can anyone tell me what WDT stands for? Withering Daily Topic? Words Doubting Theocracy?

I do not donate to the salvation army. Otherwise, there is nothing around here that is apparent to support religious organizations.

We used to have United Way drives at work where we were pressured to give and the company matched our contributions dollar for dollar. I pointed out that our corporate policy is to not discriminate on the bases of religion or sexual orientation but UW supports the Boy Scouts of America which discriminates against atheists and homosexuals. Our HR person told me that I was not the first person who objected to UW drives. After that no more UW drives where I work. I like to think I had something to do with it!
Now that the military no longer discriminates against homosexuals I wonder if they will still recognize BSA service. Eagle scouts who enlist in the military start at pay grade E-3 while most people start at E-1 and don't get to E-3 until they reach the rank of Private First Class or equivalent. Giving preference to eagle scouts is obviously discriminatory against gays who can not participate in scouting.

I also avoid Chick-Fil-A and giving to the Salvation Army, but honestly didn't realize that about Hobby Lobby. I generally prefer Michaels anyway, but go to Hobby Lobby on occasion with a friend, and since she always chooses when to go I guess I never noticed the hours. I'll just have to start pushing Michaels when we go craft shopping together. I recently discovered that Forever 21 and In-N-Out Burger print bible verses on their bags and cups.

I do avoid shopping at places that trumpet their own "Christian values", whatever they believe that to be. The need to label them "Christian values" is extremely off-putting to me.

I do not support overtly religious charities.

Of course, I rarely know if a company is owned by people of a particular religion, but if I know for sure and especially if the owners display their religious beliefs (Bible quotes on a placard, for example) I will go elsewhere.

We were so happy when "Hobby Lobby" came to town. Hmm, closed on Sundays? Go in the store and all you here is christian indoctrination music playing. We promptly walked out, but let the manager know why.

I generally donate to secular charities, but I would give to a religious charity if the religion element is tangential to their mission. For instance, the Heifer International is a great organization that began as a Christian charity and still has ties to churches, but its mission is to fight hunger, not spread religion. I have donated to them and would give again.

Same here, I only donate to secular charities and avoid places that have religious agendas. If anyone is looking for a secular charity, here is a good one: foundationbeyondbelief.org/

I am the same way with the Salvation Army and other religious charities. I try to do my research and give to secular charities when I can.

Chick-Fil-A is just starting to move in to Nebraska now and I do plan to avoid them as well.

Discussion topic for 12/19/2011:
Are there any businesses, companies, organizations, etc. that you specifically avoid or no longer patronize due to their religious affiliations?

Personally, I stopped going to Chick-Fil-A because of their religious and anti-gay activism. I also won't donate to Salvation Army for the same reasons (I give what I can to secular organizations).