"Doing God's Business" in the Carolinas -

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by Francois

You didn't read the post you so quickly jumped on, which said this:

I refuse to hire anyone who uses religious symbology to make a profit. I actually find it manipulative and offensive.

I will repeat "to make a profit". The poster you're lambasting specifically said it's OK for a person to show religious faith but not--let me repeat--to use it to make a profit. It was not in regard to hiring someone. Meaning those who loudly proclaim their religion any time they think it will get them an extra customer. I am n full agreement with this, though I am aware that this sort of "exploitative" behavior also drives away customers so it is something of a wash.

Near Sanford, there is a personal storage company that has billboards along the road with Bible verses, and not the "Jesus loves you" kind, but the "you will burn in hell if you don't take Jesus as your savior" kind, advertising their storage business. I would leave my stuff sitting in the rain before I'd patronize such a place. But, they apparently think it will bring them business. I just hope that at the very least, they actually believe to this degree, not just use it for a "marketing tactic".

You can take apart any way you like, bottom line if I practice my religion by putting a cross on my business card or a scripture reference in my email signature (which i do) the poster won't hire me. That's fine, if my faith cost me business I'm ok with that, but don't say how willing you are to accept the way I practice my religion and then discriminate against how I practice my religion.

I do those things as ways to say I'm not afraid of who I am or whose I am and he'll say I do it for profit.

Just exactly how do you determine what's done to 'make a profit' and what's done to 'make a point'? Let me guess: whichever you say it is......it is. Lovely.

Again.....one can't make this stuff up.

[mullman]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

...if my faith cost me business I'm ok with that, but don't say how willing you are to accept the way I practice my religion and then discriminate against how I practice my religion.

Just exactly how do you determine what's done to 'make a profit' and what's done to 'make a point'? Let me guess: whichever you say it is......it is. Lovely.

Agree.

How can someone say the bible versus (for example) on Cookout's packaging is 'for profit'?
It is their business and they wish to make a statement.
No one is forced to eat there...

[NorasMom]

I personally couldn't care less if Christians practice their religion around me, including on products I purchase. I also want other religions to have that same freedom. I wonder if the Christians here would be ok with a verse from the Qur'an popping up on their menu, or how they would feel being served by a hijab-wearing waitress? I've heard plenty of Christians complain about that.

So my point is - if you want your religion freely expressed, then by all rights all religions should be freely expressed. But somehow I suspect many of you would disagree. I've spent enough time in the Christian church (many years ago) to know this.

[chicagomichauds]

Originally Posted by NorasMom

I personally couldn't care less if Christians practice their religion around me, including on products I purchase. I also want other religions to have that same freedom. I wonder if the Christians here would be ok with a verse from the Qur'an popping up on their menu, or how they would feel being served by a hijab-wearing waitress? I've heard plenty of Christians complain about that.

So my point is - if you want your religion freely expressed, then by all rights all religions should be freely expressed. But somehow I suspect many of you would disagree. I've spent enough time in the Christian church (many years ago) to know this.

Instead of the Koran you would have been better of mentioning the Torah for comparison. Right or wrong, there are instant correlations in people's heads to 9-11 when you mention the Koran.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by NorasMom

I personally couldn't care less if Christians practice their religion around me, including on products I purchase. I also want other religions to have that same freedom. I wonder if the Christians here would be ok with a verse from the Qur'an popping up on their menu, or how they would feel being served by a hijab-wearing waitress? I've heard plenty of Christians complain about that.

So my point is - if you want your religion freely expressed, then by all rights all religions should be freely expressed. But somehow I suspect many of you would disagree. I've spent enough time in the Christian church (many years ago) to know this.

Like most things in life, one cannot make a blanket statement about how most people will react to anything.

I don't care if Hari Krishnas are bringing me my burgers, lol. As long as the sanitation is Grade A, I don't care what folks are wearing or what "slogans" they have on their clothing.

I have read the Quran, and there are many beautiful verses that are thought provoking. So, if you wanna put a verse on your sleeve, it's fine with me!

Here's one of my favorites quotes:

"Each follows the Way and honors harmony, not by law, but by being."

Anyone offended by that lovely thought?

I doubt it.

It's from the Tao Te Ching.

Did you know you can be a Taoist and a Christian? Does anyone care?

I didn't think so, lol!!!

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by NorasMom

I personally couldn't care less if Christians practice their religion around me, including on products I purchase. I also want other religions to have that same freedom. I wonder if the Christians here would be ok with a verse from the Qur'an popping up on their menu, or how they would feel being served by a hijab-wearing waitress? I've heard plenty of Christians complain about that.

So my point is - if you want your religion freely expressed, then by all rights all religions should be freely expressed. But somehow I suspect many of you would disagree. I've spent enough time in the Christian church (many years ago) to know this.

The same freedom is afforded all faiths. How my faith affects my business is a price I'm willing to pay. If they are willing to risk their business for their faith then it won't matter to them how it affects their business. They are just as free as anyone though.....so express however they'd like.

I don't really get your point. Are you saying that Christians don't like people to freely express their religion? That's absurd....and certainly not something I've seen evidenced in my 40 years as a Christian in Charlotte.

(Forgive if it should be 'effects' vs. 'affects', I can never keep that straight!)

[NorasMom]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

I don't really get your point. Are you saying that Christians don't like people to freely express their religion? That's absurd....and certainly not something I've seen evidenced in my 40 years as a Christian in Charlotte.

(Forgive if it should be 'effects' vs. 'affects', I can never keep that straight!)

Often not when it comes to the islam. Agreed w/a previous poster that it brings 9/11 to mind but that's also the point - it doesn't HAVE to - heinous acts have been committed by christians in the name of faith as well. So, a free expression of religion shouldn't exclude muslims. But I hear it all the time, awful things said.

[CVP]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

One thing that makes the south and NC a great place to live for me is how people here aren't afraid to live their faith. You just don't see this kind of thing in other regions of the country:

Doing God's business - CharlotteObserver.com (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/1243711.html - broken link)

I just read through this entire thread. I apparently don't have enough to do today...

All of the posts were very interesting. I respect everyone's opinion. Now I would like to offer mine. I understand what the OP is saying, but I don't agree. I've never been "afraid" to live my faith in this country, no matter what region I lived. I believe faith is very PERSONAL and that many people choose to keep it close to their heart and not wear it on their sleeve. I believe there is a higher concentration of people in the south who attend churches that are more evangelical and as a result, followers carry these religious beliefs out into the community in order to spread the "good word." Just because I'm not "out there" speaking about my religion doesn't mean I'm more fearful.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by CVP

I just read through this entire thread. I apparently don't have enough to do today...

All of the posts were very interesting. I respect everyone's opinion. Now I would like to offer mine. I understand what the OP is saying, but I don't agree. I've never been "afraid" to live my faith in this country, no matter what region I lived. I believe faith is very PERSONAL and that many people choose to keep it close to their heart and not wear it on their sleeve. I believe there is a higher concentration of people in the south who attend churches that are more evangelical and as a result, followers carry these religious beliefs out into the community in order to spread the "good word." Just because I'm not "out there" speaking about my religion doesn't mean I'm more fearful.

Great post, thanks

Did I imply somewhere that people are really "fearful" to live their faith openly in other parts of the country? If I did, that's not exactly what I meant.

What I would have been trying to say was not that I think others are truly afriad, but that here in the south the atmosphere is one where people feel comfortable living their faith "outloud", which is what you don't see in other regions of the country.

I completely understand the old "yankee sensibility" (not meant as an ugly phrase!!) and the way those from the northeast are more private in everything they do, especially when it comes to matters of faith. And that is truly fine with me - live and let live. I'm just saying for me personally, I am happy to live here where mentioning God's name in conversation is a regular occurance, because that suits my lifestyle, my comfort level

[NC~Mom]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

One thing that makes the south and NC a great place to live for me is how people here aren't afraid to live their faith. You just don't see this kind of thing in other regions of the country:

Doing God's business - CharlotteObserver.com (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/1243711.html - broken link)

I've been here for 35+ years, and I've found that a lot of those who talk their faith....aren't really living it.

I would be turned off by a business that focused their marketing on religion.