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Religious companies

I'm compiling a list of businesses that try to promote the religion of the owners..

I'm interested in national or regional chains that people might patronize without knowing the religious agenda. (not obviously religious businesses, like Christian bookstores).

I plan to avoid these companies and suggest you do the same.

My focus has been on American companies but readers in other countries are encouraged to contribute too.

If you know of business chains that promote religion in any way large or small, or who discriminate against the non-religious in hiring, I would appreciate a comment here with some information.

Here's my current list:

Hobby Lobby:
Flagship of the dominionist Christian empire of the Green family. Has run ads calling the USA a 'Christian nation'. Other affiliated businesses include:
Hemispheres ( home decor design)
Crafts Etc.! (craft supplies)
Hong Kong Connection (an import/export company dealing in Chinese goods)
Greco Frame and Supply

In-n-Out Burger:
Bibles verse citaions printed on cups and wrappers

Alaska Airlines:
Passes out prayer cards with meals.

Chik Fil A:
Each Monday morning employees ... attend a half-hour devotional service led by a staff member or a visiting minister. This quote, ... graces the entrance to (Chick-fil-A) headquarters: "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us--to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."

Ship with Sam (Sam Kholi transport ):
Trucking company / Xtian ministry Has "Jesus Christ is Lord - not a swear word" on the sides of their trucks.

Tags: boycott, business, religion

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Permalink Reply by Father Nature on March 21, 2009 at 12:39pm

Domino's (and Catholic Town) founder, Tom Monaghan, sold his interest in the company in 1998 so I don't know that Domino's is now promoting religion. I'll have to look into that some more. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Derek on March 21, 2009 at 1:59pm

I used to work for Domino's. Not an angel in the place. lol

We partied at work. The higher ups may be religious, but the actual workers were some of the most fun people I've ever worked with.

We never heard anything about anything religious.

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Permalink Reply by FreeThinker on March 21, 2009 at 12:08pm

eHarmony was founded in 2000 by evangelical Christian Dr. Neil Clark Warren and had ties with the religious conservative group Focus on the Family. It was originally founded primarily as a Christian dating site, but it was since become more secular (partly due to lawsuits).

The Original Mattress Factory, which has stores along the East Coast states from Pennsylvania to Florida, as well as Ohio, Kentucky, and Minnesota, had a radio ad in which the owner read a poem called "Take Time". Among the lines of the poem were "take time to pray...it is the greatest power on earth" and "take time to love and be loved...it is a God-given privilege."

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Permalink Reply by Father Nature on March 21, 2009 at 12:47pm

Thanks. I was thinking brick-and-morter businesses but there's no reason not to include online companies like eHarmony too. I read somewhere a while ago that non-believers who tried to register on eHarmony were effectively told to take their business elsewhere. Can anyone confirm?

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Permalink Reply by Bryan McManus on August 13, 2009 at 10:44pm

I was turned away by eHarmony for being legally separated instead of married or divorced. What ticked me off is that marital status was one of the earlier questions but they let me finish the whole damned survey before telling me they wouldn't let me join.

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Permalink Reply by Tedster on April 16, 2009 at 1:02am

eHarmony also doesn't have a category for same sex partnering.

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Permalink Reply by Father Nature on March 21, 2009 at 12:42pm

Thanks a lot. I'll sift through your link for leads.

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Permalink Reply by Tedster on April 16, 2009 at 1:17am

You might as well put everybody on Laudanums list. what skeptic would be against gay marriage. Certainly many opposed marriage in general, but not non would bother focusing against gay marriage.

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Permalink Reply by Father Nature on March 21, 2009 at 1:43pm

Good one. Your tip lead me to this. It all makes sense.

There was a thread a while back on RichardDawkins.net about what atheists do with bibles in hotel rooms. It had some pretty creative ideas.

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Permalink Reply by no0ne on March 29, 2009 at 12:38pm

They also have porn on the TV's.... now *that's* entertainment

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Permalink Reply by Father Nature on March 22, 2009 at 8:44am

A big fish that belongs on my list:

Amway:
Pretty well known for it's culture of right-wing Christian values (greed, bigotry, superstition, etc.).

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Permalink Reply by FreeThinker on March 29, 2009 at 7:50am

I thought this was a joke, but nope! Here it is on amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Believe-In-God-Breath-Spray/dp/B000NIAQ7G

Active ingredients: peppermint, LSD, high-fructose corn syrup, potassium benzoate.

I want to write a review saying I tried it and Satan appeared before me. :D

Edit: Apparently, the maker of this produces it as a gag gift. They also have a "Look and Feel Canadian instantly" breathspray. lol