Thursday, May 13, 2010

Religious companies

There are some companies, fairly well-known ones, that I never knew attempt to push their religious beliefs on others. I find it pretty frustrating when I'm trying to purchase something and I get a religious sermon. Or an ad for car batteries is talking about God's love. I find it worse than religious organizations and televangelists, because, with them, you at least know what you're getting yourself into. But, I was looking for plane tickets recently and a wandering google search taught me that Alaska Airlines regularly distributes Bible verses with their meals. When common everyday companies, like Alaska Airlines, pushes religion when providing the service that you pay them for, it's insidious and not only offends me, but leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, if I were to give my business to Alaska Airlines or Interstate Batteries (which I have before), I have donated to a religious cause (something which I try to avoid at all costs). They are private corporations and can do whatever they want... I'd just like to know about it so I can avoid giving my money to them in the future. So here's my list that may be growing, of companies I will try to avoid because I'd rather not have my business with them fund proselytizing. A good starting point is from a list made last year here. Another good list is here, but I'm not considering companies that just have owners who are religious and have a spiritual way of making decisions. It's more when employees or customers are exposed to religious propaganda, nonreligious employees/customers are discriminated against or the profits from the company goes to religious organizations.

Alaska Airlines
Anthem coffee shop in Tacoma, WA
Chik-Fil-A (aah! Making employees pray and Christian-themed toys in their children's meals... that's pure evil!)
Chymorvah bed and breakfast in Marazion, Cornwall, England
Delta Airlines
Domino's Farms in Ann Arbor, MI
Eden Foods
Hobby Lobby
In-and-Out Burger
Interstate Batteries
Florists in Cranston, RI 
Forever 21 (owner likes to demonstrate his faith by putting a bible verse on bags)
Oklahoma Joe's Bar-b-cue in Broken Arrow, OK (breaking its agreement to donate to Camp Quest after taking profits from supports).
Prometric (testing center was playing Christian radio in the waiting room... not what I want to hear just before I start taking Step 2).
Korte & Luitjohan Contractors in Highland, IL
Sting Ray Cafe in New Bern, NC
Trijicon (Hidden Bible verses written on military weapons).
Tyson Foods (thousands of chaplains "serving" their employees)
United States Postal Service (somehow packages that say atheist on them tend to get lost)
US Plastics sends religious messages to their customers
Voss Lighting Company of Lincoln, NE
Weingartz Supply Co. in Ann Arbor, MI
Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills, MI

This is a slowly growing list. If you have any additions, please let me know.

3 comments:

  1. Chik-Fil-A has never made any secrets about their religiosity. In fact, it's one of the few fast food stores that isn't open on Sundays. Their waffle fries are pretty delicious, btw.

    And for those of us from Alaska, AK Airlines is also no surprise. I have been similarly annoyed with their psalm cards that they slip into their meal trays on many occasions.

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  2. I've only been to Chik-Fil-A once, so I don't know much about them, and I'd heard of the Sunday thing, but didn't know they went that far. Alaska Airlines was total news to me... guess you'd more a little more about that.

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  3. Alaska Airlines makes me sad. I'm a few thousand miles away and unlikely to fly with them, but I hear they're the best airline to fly if you like craft beer. They actually serve local beers on flights, or at least they did when Beer Advocate did an article on which airlines were the best to drink on.

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