Fed up with the "Christian" right: a business just lost me as a customer.

I was trying to find someone to do some light hauling for me, and called a number in the phone book. I got an answering machine that said "God willing," we can do your hauling job and then said to leave your name phone number, etc. At this point, I was going to leave my info, but then the taped message went on to give a "thought for the day" to the effect if you died tomorrow do you know where your soul will go.

I count myself as a Christian, but I have gotten such a bad taste in my mouth from so many of the sanctimonious self-righteous "Christians" that this message really rubbed me the wrong way. I hung up, and called someone else.

Anyone else getting sick of people who always feel the need to preach to you?

he wasn't getting any

and also from a Christian dating service:

"meet people like yourself with good Christian values.. etc."

Imagine that "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" moment!}(

:rofl:

Welcome to DU :hi:

I can't remember.

Maybe they're on their way to hell.

What am I saying, "maybe"?

Im an atheist but i try to undertand the bible so i can hit back at the loonies when they try to convert me. Anyway, i believe the bible does forbid usuary and jesus chased the money changers out of the temple. In fact, because the bible prohibits usuary, in the middle ages jews were the only ones allowed to lend money. Very convenient so when some great lord or king found his bills had come due he started a pogrom (a middle age form of filing bankruptcy) and killed the lenders/

technically judaism also forbids usury, but it was mainly within their community. so the medieval jewish could lend outside of the community, which was assumed to bring prosperity back into a suffering community. in medieval christianity it was the lending that was the sin, but borrowing was fine because desperate people are desperate people. so there was a fascinating poisonous relationship that led to horrible cycles of destitution and violence. one side could only lend, another could only borrow, both ended up at each other's throats. kinda makes the islamic wholesale ban of usury w/o loopholes more sensible in comparison, doesn't it?

The Bible only admonished two groups of people -- those who perform/receive abortions and homosexuals. At least that's what appears to be in "The Bible" that most of the "Christian" right seems to be reading...
:sarcasm:

from the Christian Woman's House Cleaning Service. I just don't get it.

too many experiences with the cleaning biz and dishonest zealots alike.

anoint their heads with Murphy's Oil Soap?

I won't use the business. Anyone trying that hard to show how wholesome they are means more skeletons in the closet.

Being a christian does not mean you will be a good housecleaner. I recall a quote, I don't know by whom: Don't tell me you are a christian, let me figure it out for myself.

The majority of them are crooks anyway.

Hey tell them you are desperate for help and you are willing to pay any amount of money for someone to come clean your house. When they show up you say "Oh im sorry i didnt realize you only clean christian houses. Sorry im an atheist" then close the door

Those who feel secure enough in their beliefs not to proselytize to others are preferred in my book.

Religion is a personal and private thing and should not be used in advertising, etc.

Those people feel like they are doing exactly what the bible says. I mean, the great commission and all.

before you call anyone. That wacko probably has a few complaints on him. ;)

just about everywhere. thankfully, there are enough progressives in business that I can usually manage to ignore the others, or deliberately avoid them.

anytime I walk into a place that displays the xian ichthys, I turn around and walk out. went to check into a motel one night when traveling, saw a cross, turned around and left. would rather have slept in my car at a rest stop.

I probably would have left a message to the effect of "Sorry, I didn't realize I was calling a church. I'll have to move on to the next business on my list. Have a nice day!"

I'll just be sure to block caller ID. I DON'T want the guy calling me back.

Because when they do "wear their religion on their sleeve" it really leaves a bad taste in one's mouth about the rest of Christianity that keeps it to themselves and just believes in doing good to others.

who wear their Christianity on their sleeves like that.

I've decided they think it's some kind of shield for having to do a competent job.

That's just my limited experience though. I stay away from 'em.

I'd be okay with the first message, although I'd have to wonder why he had to get God's approval to haul my stuff. But the ending message was beyond the pale. No way would I give them my business.

BTW, I'm not a Christian but I have great respect for most people of faith.

on one side of their large sign that is supposed to advertise what their specials are..

Just cause you feel so good, do you have
To drive me out of my head?

I said, hey! you! get off of my cloud
Hey! you! get off of my cloud
Hey! you! get off of my cloud

as patriotism...

And its usually embraced by the same kind of people.

It doesn't matter how you act or what you do.

The more you remind people of how patriotic or Christian you are, the better person you must be.

I swear, I've never seen people openly flaunt their religion as much as people do now

".....I swear, I've never seen people openly flaunt their religion as much as people do now....."

It sure wasn't like this when I was growing up in the 60s and early 70s. The fundies are REALLY RABID these days, and it's ALL FOR SHOW. I don't believe more than 1 in 10 of them actually believes any of the crap they spew. But it makes them popular with the "right crowd" and opens up economic opportunities with the gullible.

Jesus would be rolling in his grave if he were still there, lol.

Christian this, Christian that.

People talking about their "walk with God" anywhere and everywhere.

Part of the blame goes to 9/11 (people wanted to be seen as religious after the tragedy).

And part of it goes to televangelist pastors. They promote a very selfish take on Christianity (Jesus can help make you rich and lose weight!). Best part is, all you have to do to go to Heaven is accept Jesus as your savior. Once you do that, you don't even have to be a good person, because you are already saved.

The Magic Jesus Words (TM). It's not what you do or how you live or how you treat the least among us. It's just say the magic words.

What a shallow, pathetic excuse for a religion. I think they are going straight to hell, personally.

because they put bible quotes on their coffee cups.

And I don't buy Domino's pizza because of the owners anti-abortion stance and him giving to terrorist anti-abortion groups

just to name two

especially living in an area with lots of great greek and italian pizza places.

The issue usually comes up when it's an office type function, or at parties. I get a bit loud about informing people what they're supporting. Haven't ever failed to convince people to use another place once they hear about the nutsack that owns Domino's

It says so right in the Bible...we can quote it for you!

When I see a fish symbol adorning a business ad in the Yellow Pages, I bypass it and call somebody else. I've had too many of them who didn't finish, didn't do what they said they would, and generally broke faith with me as a customer. I've yet to have a good experience with an overtly religious business.

Conversely, I've had wonderful experiences with Christians in my business dealings. My plumber does great work, comes when he says he will, calls me if he can't, and never charges me over his estimate. He's also an evangelical minister. No fish on his truck, no overtly religious bumper stickers, etc. He merely lives the life. That does more to boost my faith than a million fish symbols will ever do.

ACTIONS don't need to thump their chests proclaiming for all to hear what a good Christian they claim to be.

and she has had patients ask her what her religion is, because they say they can sense something different about her. In that case, she will share that she gets a lot of strength from her Quaker faith, and will answer any questions they might have (or not). But she doesnt proselytize.

Much better to walk the walk.

religion used to be a private thing until the repukes dragged it out to bludgeon us with it.

makes it easy to know who to avoid...

and I pick one up every year to make sure I never use any of those businesses. And I am a Christian, but I don't want to mix with THOSE kind of Christians, because we don't believe in the same things.

of thanking them for pointing out which businesses I need to avoid.

...who are aware of people's gullibility and willing to use it to their own advantage.

All the more reason to avoid them like the plague.

What you described personally happened to me a few years ago.

Never again.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

...especially when I'm calling a business and the person's voice mail (and it's invariably a woman who says it) says that at the end.

There's a prayer on the package of eggs that I buy occassionally from the corner store. "Honey, do you want some Jesus eggs?" That's what we call them now.

Newsflash: the word is out. Jesus and the Bible have good PR already. I would not have left a message to that guy either. I'm all for people having whatever beliefs work for them but I think it's rude to act as though everyone else has them as well.

that I bought last weekend... "Jesus eggs" good one!!

is run by Christians too. Although they don't put fish on their eggs, they have one on their sign. Christ would be appalled at the conditions factory-farmed chickens are kept in.

Whenever we'd drive by, we'd say "hey, how about some Jesus Tamales?" The lady's no longer there, so the Jesus must not have been fresh enough to pass Health Inspection.

Haele

:rofl:

do the least.

I'm with Spiff, I bypass the fish symbol in the phone book.

And there are many good Christians out there, but they don't seem to need to flaunt it. Someone should be able to *see* your God in you, not have to listen to your proselytizing.

and her dumb ass question was, "Do you think going to heaven is a scientific matter?" I assume this was her heading into the Science/ID issue and I was in NO MOOD to hear her bullshit. I looked her in the eye and said, "It's none of your business, I'm Jewish and don't ever come back here again, OK?" She dropped her jaw, asked, "you're Jewish??" (shock! there's a JOOOO in the neighborhood!) I slammed my door and they left. I'm sick of their crap and I will let them know it...from here on out. They use to be inconsequential because everyone saw them as NUTS, but they have power now. No more keeping my mouth shut.

Just for the religious RW nut jobs, I put a "DARWIN LOVES YOU" bumper sticker on my car. I hope it pisses them all off. I HATE it when people try to shove their religion down my throat. I would never do business with the people you called either. That answering machine message is beyond ridiculous. I probably would have left a message like..."I'm sorry, I don't do business with people who have the need to shove their religion down my throat. I'll call someone else."

they bring children with them. I suppose it makes it less likely for them to be greeted with the rudeness and profanity they deserve.

that they would drag innocent children with them as they attempted to indoctrinate people into their superstitious beliefs. Besides, it would be fun to watch their heads spin when you ask if their child was born a JW

One of my friends was abused as a child, and whenever the JWs come to her door with kids, she gets down to the kid's level and says "Can you say 'child abuse'"? The JWs leave in a hurry.

She said she'd only just found out that Jews don't believe in Jesus, and she didn't even know anyone knew Hebrew anymore.

The saddest part was, she wasn't closed-minded as an individual; she was eager to learn more about Judaism, and I impressed the heck out of her by writing her name in Hebrew letters. She was just that sheltered.

Tucker

smile mysteriously. They looked quite alarmed. They came back once with a man who stood back about 10 feet.
Then they never came back again.

but today, amazingly a Jehovah's Witness came to my door, and she was very young, dressed in a sober long skirt and blouse and was very MEEK.

I was all set to pounce, but I'm glad that I didn't because when I told her that I wasn't interested she just politely walked away. I swear I had to restrain myself from not grabbing her by the shoulders sitting her down & trying to deprogram her.

She's been on my mind all evening, and I just feel so badly for her and I've never felt like that with any of them. Talk about religion ruining lives. Such a lovely young woman and already completely indoctrinated.

What power do they have? Jehovah Witnesses aren't even allowed to get involved in politics.

Open the door when the jw's come to your door (make sure its bloody if possible) and tell them you are about to sacrifice to the devil whom you worship and youll be right back. I did that and i can guarantee that you'll never see them again.
Oh and youll love this. some idiot once asked if jews bellieved in god. I said yes. She said oh cant be you dont believe in jesus. I said but we celebrate xmas. Oh really she said eyes glazing with ecstasy, how do you do that? to which i replied - oh since we own all the stores we usually go about an hour before closing, watch you spend money you dont have to give to people because you feel guilty otherwise and, the best thing is, you go into debt to celebrate the birth of a jew!!!!! then we go to the caribbean for the winter with the money you gave us

This has become a parallel universe. There's xtian restaurants, retirement homes, home remodelers and so on. Some would call this "marketing".

I see them as a little warning sign that says to me, "Don't do business here!"

Here's my example:

Not long ago, I was in my mom's living room, waiting to take her to lunch. She had a plumber in to do some emergency work in her kitchen, so I leafed through a magazine until he was finished.

I heard him ask about the Kerry sticker on her car (she never took it off; she wants the world to know she isn't responsible for Bush). My mom said yes, she's a died-in-the-wool Democrat. A few seconds passed as the plumber digested that, and then he said to my amazed disbelief, "I couldn't vote for a Democrat. They're immoral."

I shot up from the couch and as I was rounding the corner to the kitchen my mother shot me a warning look, knowing how difficult it is to find a plumber willing to come out immediately on a Saturday. Still, it enraged me then and it does to this day - this big fucking slob was in essence calling my 71 year old mother immoral, and she was paying for the privilege! Just who in the HELL do these people think they are?????? He brought up her damn bumper sticker in the first place, it wasn't as though she was recruiting him for his vote!

Right wing hate radio has made these people so bold, so rude, that they think they can now insult paying customers to their faces. Amazing. Shocking.

He seems to have no problem with taking money from his "immoral" customers. So, **what** does that make him?? :grr:

I was so ready to throw his ass out of there, even if I did have to reach into my wallet and pay his minimum. Still, I had to respect that it wasn't my call, that my mom just wanted her damn disposal fixed and to be rid of him.

She did, however, put a note next to his listing in the Yellow Pages not to use him ever again. I think she wrote "Republican asshole" next to it.

the election.

As I was walking by, one of them said 'ask her; I'm sure she's a democrat.' And the other (an extremely good teacher) said 'how can you vote for someone who does not explicitly condemn homosexuality?'

I just looked at him; I really didn't know where to begin.

Coincidently, mine was a light hauling job too. The guy tried to get me to go to one of his recruiting meetings. Called me three times after the job too, probably because I made the mistake of mentioning I had an interest (not a belief) in traditional Kabbalah. He continued even after I got annoyed and told him point blank, "No." --and further, that I think proselytizing any kind of religion to gain new recruits is obnoxious, presumptuous and offensive. On the third phone call, I finally told him he wouldn't get my business again. Interesting, that's when he stopped calling.

Why is it that people with the most inane cartoonish beliefs think everyone else should benefit by believing what they do? Do they think we all fell off the same turnip truck?

Spirituality is good for people who find it useful, but that's a different thing entirely. I no longer have any tolerance for the ones who try to sell it like snake oil. My personal rule is that if someone intrudes or offends me in my own home, I warn them once and then I deal with them harshly if they continue - and "my own home" has come to mean my psychological space too. These last few years I've become more aware of this from a number of experiences of this kind.

New policy: I won't do business with god-warriors, proselytizers or missionaries of any stripe and sorry if that seems unfair or hateful. They've gotten a free ride for far too long.

J

on her (and my dad's) answering machine, each and every day. It sounds so smug and pious (as she intends) that if I get their machine, I hang up immediately.

It's bad enough on a personal machine - but a business? Sheesh.

i'd be leaving passages of the Vedas on their answering machine as my calling card. i'd have enough material for a lifetime or more. naturally i'd have to brush up on my sanskrit pronunciation... a lot.

It was for a car repair place and said something like "We are a non-smoking, God praising establishment" WTF? What's that have to do with changing my fucking oil?

Hey, more power to them I guess, but to me they are whoring out their God to make money. He/She will be very pissed off when these goofballs get to Heaven..LOL

Maybe he wanted to haul it for you?

I have plenty of baggage!

that is constantly playing overtly Christian lite-rock music as their music-to-shop-by.

That music doesn't appeal to me on so many levels. I seldom shop there.

Have you seen the ad for the christian lawyers in Houston?
I almost hurled when I saw it.

a translation agency whose website talked about their Christian principles. I had to dun them to get paid a four-figure payment and I later heard that other translators had had the same problem.

I'm a Christian (Episcopalian), and it seems that the people with the fish symbols are like the Pharisees praying on the street corner, condemned by Jesus. The overt advertising, the "look at me, I'm a Christian" attitude buggeth me exceedingly.

I rarely trust people who feel the need to proclaim their religious beliefs. If they really feel the impulse to share their faith they could accomplish far more by living it than by preaching it. Just my opinion though.

As an atheist I often wonder if those types of people actually think someone is going to convert to their religion based on an answering machine message.

It's just so odd.

It would be like me leaving something in mine, saying god was santa claus for adults.

variety too.

You don't hear much from us "formally" because we don't preach, we do. :hi:

I play service music for a United Methodist church on Sundays. They believe in walking the walk, and are quite liberal. They don't have the fish sticker on their cars.

Like James (that James- Jesus' brother) says- faith without good works is empty.


:hi:

"faith without good works is empty"

I agree 100%. Nice to meet you. :hi:

to us nonbelievers, it appears that you are enabling the fundies because, ultimately, you justify the irrationality of believing in the first place. Faith = making a virtue of beliving in something for which there is no evidence. In my mind, it's all on the same spectrum. And "moderate" religion is dangerous for this reason. It inculcates irrationality and furthers the taboo against public, rational criticism of people's "beliefs".

www.richarddawkins.net

Peace.

so I guess they feel the need to invade every aspect of our lives with their ONE-SIDED beliefs. I mean, this hauler would throw a fit if he called a furnace repairman who channeled Allah on his answering machine.

It's just not appropriate behavior at any level. Personal religious beliefs need to remain just that--PERSONAL.

My son received highly religious material from a school club from a college he was about to attend and at the orientation when they asked us if there was anything we got that turned us off from attending the campus, I mentioned that mailer.

and you will find a number of cons that use the "Cristian", as in "crist that was easy", line as part of their scam. They mostly scam gullible christians that think they are dealing with honest people.

the more likely it is to try to cheat you, overcharge, not do the work, or otherwise provide a bad business experience.

When you see those little Jesus fish in the area you'd better keep your hand on your wallet.

old Texas Truism

At work, in lines, bumper stickers, etc and so on.

Seems everyone has a message.

If so, what is that universal liberal symbol we have in our yellow pages ads, on our radio ads, and on our print collateral.
I must have missed that email.
Let me know. I want to make sure I patronize those businesses.
And, of course, I need to slap that symbol throughout my company's marketing. Clearly, I'm missing out on the DU market.

but he would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER smear his political beliefs in potential clients' faces. It's just not smart business. I think that's partly why the phone message rubbed me the wrong way, was that the guy was either too dumb to realize it was bad for business or that he was so smugly arrogant that he didn't care.

I noticed on my online order the other day that there was a little scripture verse that popped up after I placed my order. I knew they had a verse from scripture in their catalog, and they mention in their company statement that they believe in following the example of Christ. I have to admit, the catalog scripture doesn't bother me, but I felt myself cringe when I saw it on the order confirmation page.

However, they are a very good company, extremely fair and courteous to their customers. They talk the talk and walk the walk.

You've got to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to Christianity-espousing companies. Good luck with that, because a lot of unscrupulous people have jumped on the Jesus bandwagon and they should be kicked off.

I just bought something from sierra today for the first time!!!!! Now ill have to cancel.

does it really matter what religion they practice if their stuff is good and you like it? Can you imagine some Bushite refusing to buy something from some one or some company that was Muslim?

Yes i can imagine bush refusing to buy anything from muslims - besides he doesnt buy things he steals them.
I was just being sarcastic about cancelling.

too. The God Willing alost sounds comical in context

Instead of a fish, let's use an ankh or a peace sign or some other liberal symbol for ads in the phone book.

This way, customers will know that "if you call this business, we won't pound you over the head with meaningless bullshit dogma, we won't try to convert you, we won't ask you if you've acceted Jesus Christ as your personal savior-- we'll just haul your shit." :D

hybrid-driving, flag-burning, aclu-card-carrying, multicultural-accepting, publicly-fornicating "american hater." :evilgrin: it'd definitely be more interesting than the silhouettes used for national sports or the olympics. but it definitely runs the risk of being a big ol' Rorschach test.

lemme tellya. But I'm all for it.

A lesbian witch burning a flag as she's having an abortion while marrying two gay, communists? I think that should just about cover it-and they should all be wearing turbans.:sarcasm:

In fact i put a pentagram on my front door with a note saying im eager to discuss heaven and hell with anyone. Amazing how no one knocks on my door. Youd think though that if they truly believed in the babble they are preaching they would not feel fear in speaking to me because they are protected by god (i think)
But what really bothers me is ads with the opening Christian Hauling or christian handyman - i call them and tell them what i want and ask the price and let them believe im interested then say "oh wait a minute. Im sorry i cant use you" so they ask why not. And i tell them im jewish and they only want christians. Love it

Or with obvious displays of evangelical cultism, like tackily-illustrated psalms in frames, "In God We Trust" decals on the windows (Whataburger), etc.

:puke:

:shrug: I hate organized religion. I think they are all sheeple!

And if you're not "one of them", you will go (televangelist voice) straight to the fiery depths of satan's pit where you burn in eternal hellfire!

It's all just an act, one worthy of an academy award performance. Things like CCM, the marketing of Christianity in things like "Faith Night", televangelists, movies like Passion Of The Christ, even kids shows like VeggieTales, it's mind-boggling how much Christianity has become big business.

WTF.. OK, we are a country full of diptards. I think I should stay in Portland forever. The rest of the country is infiltrated with idiots. Jesus Fucking Christ, I hope the sane can remain that way. Jesus Fuck I need a smoke.. That is fucking crazy, nutballs....ahhhhhh. Fuck.. Outside..

If I'm in a store and I sneeze and the person behind the counter says "God Bless you", I will politely say thanks and continue shopping or whatever I happened to be doing. ANY other mention of "God" or "Jesus" or anything similar at a place of business and I walk right out the door. To me, the "overly-Christian" thing that some people have going on just seems creepy.

It's polite, rote, and totally nonreligious.

Spiritual journeys are great IMHO.
But the loons run the bin now. I skip all adds with the Jesus fish. (i got laid off the lectured about how insulting my darwin sticker is)

Preaching how I'm on the wrong path rubs me wrong too. Especially from someone insisting that woman came from a rib, animals from an arc, and a 6K year old earth. Then they sneak that stuff into my kids classroom -LUNACY to me!

I'm kind of blaming christians unfairly for the conservative movement. It's just that I'm sick of being looked at as flawed for liking facts and reality. And the government they enable is hell on earth. Twisted freaks, they are.

next to the Fish, there is also a Pentacle, a Star of David, on and on... along with their ad in the phone book?? The Look At Me Christians would PITCH A FIT if they saw all those symbols on one ad, signifying "We cater to everyone". I'd LOVE to see an ad like that.

It's not implying that anyone is damned, but it is making a statement of faith on the part of the owner. A lumber yard near my house has that message on it.

are the surest ones to do a lousy job, over-charge and give you an all-round screwing over.