Religion and Business do they mix??? - Page 2 - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

3.14 · #16 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakkasan

well i think pram said it in his post

the fish or a sticker on the door i think would be in line with "PC" thinking and would atleast give the customer the heads up

Thats what I was saying, it's silly not to be PC in the US if one's running a business of that nature.

Dilettante · #17 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakkasan

...Once it finally came together my wife was of the opinion that they should disclaim that this is a religious establishment on the door. My son said it totally fucked up that they would slam their morals down other people’s throat. And I was well kind of surprised but didn’t see the big deal because the burgers were ok ….

So my question is should business and religion be mixed? Should business such as restaurants actually disclaim stuff like this so people know? Or should a business be able to do whatever they want in regards to religion in the workplace?

I'm not sure if this is really a case of religion and business mixing. It's not like the actually business of the place (selling burgers) was religious; sounds like they just had a whole lot of religiously themed decorations and advertising.

As others have said, they clearly aren't styling their establishment to appeal to the widest possible customer base, but then many restaurants these days are themed like that. It hardly sounds fair to say that they were slamming their morals down anyone's throats; they just put up the stuff they wanted to put up in their restaurant.

Regarding the disclaimer, I'm somewhat surprised that they put up all that stuff inside and didn't put up any outside. But then I'm not sure I'd noticed a little fish in a window, especially if the usual collection of "daily specials" and menu ads were already there.
And really, what would that kind of thing save anyone except possibly the last few feet to the door. It sounds like the theme of the place was immediately apparent as soon as someone steps inside and looks around.

Rakkasan · #18 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgoodtrips

Agreed (regarding the burgers and religion). And, btw, congrats on opening your own store. That definitely sounds like a nice slice of the American Dream

wish it was mine....i was trying to skirt naming the chain name of the store so as not to hurt business cause i am so welled liked on here

so miss spoke

its a corporate owned store i have been a assitant manager in one of their stores for a year and ahalf off and on and now will open my own store that i get to run so to speak it is my slice i guess for i lack the balls to go out and start my own ........

SMadsen · #19 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Isn't this what religion serves in the first place? Alot of fat and no nutrition?

noahath · #20 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Hmmm, the posts in this thread are interesting. Still, I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been if plastered all over the walls of the restaurant were adds for the local gay bar?

SMadsen · #21 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahath

Hmmm, the posts in this thread are interesting. Still, I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been if plastered all over the walls of the restaurant were adds for the local gay bar?

Depends on the buns ...

noahath · #22 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMadsen

Depends on the buns ...

Non Sequitur · #23 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakkasan

Now my family is a tough nut when it comes to religion , I personally believe and pray but wouldn’t say I am devout by that I don’t go to church for I think they are money laundering facilities so to speak for they pass the plate way too much now a days, and I don’t bible study or anything, my wife is agnostic so to speak she believes kind of but always gets wrapped around the who created god thing and feels its not absolute, and my kids are straight up atheist. My son feels its all bullshit and my daughter is too busy partying to notice anything to be quite honest. I state this to set up the parameters that this isn’t coming from a very religious family.

So yesterday the wife and I had a date day....no kids just me and her, watched the air show for awhile on Ft Campbell and went shopping.

We decided to try out a new restaurant in town called "Cheese Burger Charlie’s". It is an off spring (I am told) of O Charlie’s and was supposed to be a better hamburger joint than the usual fair of MC Chucks and Burger King. And it had the theme of a burger bar My son called at the last minute and asked to join for he had gotten off of work so we agreed he could crash our date.

We went in and ordered, and next to the till was a prayer request board , with a box that you could make prayer request and drop them in.........on it was the managers name and it appeared request for her for she was ill.

We then went and sat at our table and there was on the table the whole table, varnished into it, advertisements for churches in the area. Around us we noticed every other table was the same, the others were blank. On the bar where you get your pickles and stuff to put on your burgers was a scrolling marquee with " god is great have a great day"

We then listened to the music as we ate and it was religious music, modern form that you wouldn’t really catch for it sounded like top 40

Once it finally came together my wife was of the opinion that they should disclaim that this is a religious establishment on the door. My son said it totally fucked up that they would slam their morals down other people’s throat. And I was well kind of surprised but didn’t see the big deal because the burgers were ok ….

So my question is should business and religion be mixed? Should business such as restaurants actually disclaim stuff like this so people know? Or should a business be able to do whatever they want in regards to religion in the workplace?

Ok I personally don't have too much of a problem with this, but I'm a Christian so it's not big news to me.

On another note, I read a lot of people saying this restaurant is pushing it's owners religion on people and I want to ask are they really or are they just being public with there religion? The prayer box is something i think people should be thankful for. It's just one of many ways the owners are telling you they care. The church advertisements might be tacky, but is it really all that different from other advertisements? As for the music, I myself hate modern Christian music, but I am very selective so i don't enjoy most. So I guess to the question of should there be a disclaimer I don't know what the disclaimer would be. Would it say "the owner of this establishment is public with his beliefs"?

partofme · #24 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

We have a Christian coffee shop in my home town which I never go to. I'm not bothered by Christians or Christianity but I do not like to have a religious theme with my morning caffeine fix. I don't think it would be so bad if it was themed on something that is rare and interesting to learn about but our community offers plenty of opportunities to worship without having to soul solicit in unrelated businesses. It is their right but not my cup of tea.

Donkey_Left · #25 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakkasan

Ya i dont get it really

I am opening retail store that of course caters to law enforcement and the miltary and we are going to be playing war movies on a plasma screen tv and have some video games set up that are "shooting" related..........but that is the ganra of store and goes with it

I never thought burgers went with religion......and dont see the connection

Those in the business of soul saving are pretty creative in getting the good news spread, in my opinion.

Basically I think that these people can do whatever they want with their private property/business. While it might be more "honest" to say "Get your burgers between two slices of the body'o'Christ," I see no requirement, morally or constitutionally, for them to do so. I probably wouldn't patronize the restaurant much, as the only time I like religion down my throat is during communion, but I imagine they might have a regular flock (pardon the usage) of customers, and hey, whatever creams your twinkie.

Not really related to the thread topic, but it was brought up... I don't generally give anything in the offering when I go to church. It's not that I don't want to be charitable, but I'll be damned if we need a new sidewalk for the church.

noahath · #26 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by partofme

We have a Christian coffee shop in my home town which I never go to. I'm not bothered by Christians or Christianity but I do not like to have a religious theme with my morning caffeine fix. I don't think it would be so bad if it was themed on something that is rare and interesting to learn about but our community offers plenty of opportunities to worship without having to soul solicit in unrelated businesses. It is their right but not my cup of tea.

That's a fair enough statement, and one that I agree with. I personally have no problem with them having their paraphernalia in their store; if you don't like it, you leave and don't go back. Easy. What I find interesting though is people's responses. Members of this Forum often talk about having ideas rammed down their throat (usually those they don't agree with), but when it's something they do like, it's fine.

SMadsen · #27 (**permalink**) 05-21-2007

I couldn't care less what a private business does as long as it has no effect outside the demand on their products (in which case there are real issues with companies of the multinational and/or monopolistic kinds).

We have a particular American pizza house that has plastered its walls with baseball stuff. If I don't like looking at jocks in tights while I eat, I merely go somewhere else. No problem.

If they plastered their walls with religious icons, I suspect they'd run into a serious lack of customers in this part of the world. Unless of course it was done in the kitschy way to have the opposite effect. Hmmm, there's a business concept for ya.

Mrs. M · #28 (**permalink**) 05-21-2007

I think the phrase 'forcing religion down my throat' is a little overboard. Unless someone came and sat at the table with you, forced you to pray and proceeded to preach while you were eating, I don't see how they were forcing religion on the customers. Prayer lists are great but it wasn't mandatory that people pray for those on the lists. The church ads were on every other table so the customer obviously had a choice of where to sit.
As for whether religion and business mix, ask Hobby Lobby. They post a sign on the door stating that they're closed on Sunday to allow their employees time to worship and spend with family. On Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, they buy full page ads in newspapers with a religious message. But notice where their stores are NOT located!

Evil_inKarlate · #29 (**permalink**) 05-21-2007

Quote:

I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been if plastered all over the walls of the restaurant were adds for the local gay bar?

I was going to draw a similar parallel, tho not on the basis of implied bigotry - If one goes to a new business without knowing its theme (or if it has (n)one), you may find it's a sports joint, a gay place, more formal than expected, or any number of things. It all comes down to how much one (dis)likes the atmosphere as to whether you leave immediately, stay for the one visit, come back sometimes, or become a regular.

I personally would probably stay for the one visit (especially if it took as long to notice as the OP implies) but probably not go back.

As for the wider question of mixing business and religion, the owners should be allowed to do whatever they want, and their business with thrive or shrivel accordingly. It's unfortunate that they may end up changing instead based on being a lawsuit magnet for any less- or differently- religious employees or applicants.

Steve · #30 (**permalink**) 05-21-2007

You know, I honestly don't have a problem with it.

I;m an Agnostic. I don't know what the fuck to believe. But I also know that I'm not goinig to be swayed to believing something because I read a sign on a cash register or above a door.

I don't see it as "forcing it" down my throat, primarily because I'm not forced to go there. If these people are that hopped up on their religion, good for them. The fact of the matter is that most God-fearin' people I've met in my life have been a damn good sort. Yeah, they get enthusiastic about God, but so what? The ones that bother me are the ones who rear-end me on an off-ramp becasue they're reading a Bible (true story).

But, for the most part, in the situation in the OP, they can tell me how great God is all they want, so long as they remember the biscuits and gravy I ordered.

I don't get offended when someone says "God Bless You" when I sneeze. In fact, instead of a "thank you", I'll sometimes reply with "He's the only one who will", just because I know the person will get a kick out of it.

I dunno'... I guess I don't feel all too threatened by someone expressing their beliefs in such a manner...

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