What is your opinion of Wal-Mart and their campaign for christianity?

Question

Wal-Mart has made it a point to emphasize christianity, with their exclusive use of the Merry Xmas greeting in their stores. Also, if you check out the books for sale, a majority involve christianity. What is your opinion of this? Would this make you more or less likely to shop there? Thanks...

Why is sister steph so defensive? You wanna get loud, baby, go ahead. Don't hold it in on my account.

The problem is not selling christian items; the problem is assuming that everyone who walks through the door is christian. What's wrong with being inclusive?

Answer 1

I'm already boycotting them. They put low prices on things because of the slave labor they employ overseas (how christian!) and still end up overcharging you.

Answer 2

Someone already pointed out that retailers are in the business to sell products their customers want. If there was a huge demand for "fuzzy whatsits" Wal-Mart would be all over it. If there was no demand for faith-based books they wouldn't dedicate the floor space to them.
And I'm not offended if someone say's "Merry Christmas". Frankly, all else being equal, I'll shop at a store that greets it's customers with Merry Christmas before I'll shop at a competitor that doesn't. The U.S. is a Christian nation, people need to understand that. And it's about more than the birth of Christ, it's about family memories and growing up in a simpler time when values and special holidays really meant something. Remember Christmas when you were 8 or 9? I do, and I want to be reminded of those happy times.
I don't know who is offended by Merry Christmas? I don't know how anyone could be offended. I'm not offended by "Happy Kwanzaa", or "Happy Hannuka", or "Peaceful Ramadan". If I lived in Israel I wouldn't be upset if people greeted me with "Shalom". It's the culture, it's the fabric of the place. Just like Christmas is part of the fabric of America where we are free to shop wherever we please, or not.
So yeah, I'm happy Bill O'Reilley raised such a stink about this last year when so many national chains elected to not say "Merry Christmas". And the only reason Wal-Mart responded is because they took a huge hit in profits over the whole deal. Even so, I like the fact that Wal-Mart greeters are saying "Merry Christmas" at Christmas time, I don't care why. And please, not "Xmas". Don't take "Christ" completely out of it.

Did you see the comment about Wal-Mart patrons being "white trash"? Now that is an attutude that troubles me. I shop at Wal-Mart because the prices are very competitive. If my fiscal common sense makes me white trash then I guess I'm guilty.

Merry Christmas! And I mean that innocently and sincerely.

Answer 3

Wal-Marts are spreading all over the place, esp. where I live (in Arkansas) because that's where the corporate office is located. Anywho-it's a really sad situation. Some friends of mine worked there while taking college classes and they were seriously underpaid, overworked, had thier benefits "revoked," and eventually just quit. It's ironic to me that Wal Mart would have such a "Christian" inspired sales campaign and not practice what they preach as far as the employees are concerned. I rarely shop there. However, since they have taken over all of the small family owned grocery stores it is hard where I live to shop anywhere else. Thank God for the Farmer's Market.

Peace.

Answer 4

I think it's awsome they are taking this step! It's a great shame how people push christian things over or get affended at anything that is christian that is also, hopefully, not intentionally affensive. It usually sounds like they are purposely making the affence. It was a brave step, and even though Im not always particularly fond of Walmart's stock, it gives me a much higher respect for them, although I wont really hesitate to shop at Target, who did not agree to let salvation army do the cherity drive in front of their stores. I very much do not agree with that. How comfortable is that going to make some people when they walk into Target?
As for the Merry Christmases, let people say what they want to. Christmas, as my pastor even said, was not a christian holiday origionally, but I believe one day, as unaccurate as it is, to celebrate his birth, is a wonderful thing to Him. We are celebrating the day the world's savior was born. The greatest "super hero" there ever was or will be, no matter how much we enjoy Spiderman or Superman, or any self sacrificing heroes. As much as I dont agree with other beliefs, every store wont just throw out happy holiday things, it IS a holiday, but I prefer a jolly, joyful and cheery ol' Merry Christmas myself! I wait for this holiday ALL year! lol

Unless people looked at the silver cross on my neck, they might not know I am a christian, however, I am very proud of my faith, and I think that was a very unkind step on there part.
In the long run, I feel Target has the better stock, but beautiful choice Walmart! =)

Answer 5

I HATE shopping anyway. I've only been to walmart twice in the past year. I don't really care what they are selling or promoting. Though this is really funny considering how many Christians have told me that Wal-Mart is one of the stores telling it's employees to NOT say Merry Christmas. Do they get off on telling lies like this? Looking for sympathy? Or just plain ignorant and repeating what someone else told them?

Answer 6

I have a hard time imagining wal-mart has some great moral reason for wanting to do this - if you look a little bit into the company you'll find some pretty nasty and rotten practices.

I mean, it would be nice to hear Merry Christmas if I actually shopped there (which i don't) but, I have a feeling they got the impression they could make more money if they did so.

Answer 7

I don't really have a problem with Wal Mart doing this - although I despise that corporation for a whole LOT of reasons and never set foot into one of their stores.

But this decision is based on the bottom line, as all decisions for large corporations are.

They are doing what they are doing because there were enough complaints and threats to take business elsewhere on the part of the "only OUR holiday counts!" Christians that they thought they would lose too much business.

It's all about the bottom line. You know, filthy lucre, the "root of all evil".

Which is why it's so darned funny to hear fundies crow over their "moral" or "spiritual" victory in this and similar cases.

Answer 8

I dont like when I see "X-mas" instead of Christmas, so that would be a turn off.
80% of Americans are claiming Christianity as their religion, so I dont see too many people actually being offended by a Merry Christmas greeting.
IF Wal Mart wants to be more Christian, I think they should stop their contributions to Planned Parethood America's biggest provider of abortion and the slaughter of over 400,000 pre-born children this year alone.
Wal Mart just experience their LOWEST sales month EVER in November, largley due to their cancelling lay-a-way sales.
My advice, dont shop at Wal Mart, go to Target.
Other advice, liberalism and political correctness have gone way too far, ignore the BS that does not matter anyway.

Answer 9

My opinion of Wal-mart is that they do not support Christianity any more than they support any other religion or way of life based upon the percentages of Christians and other religions living in the areas of most of Their stores. Saying Merry Christmas is something normal in a society that is made up of the large percentage of Christians. Whether you like it or not December 25th is Christmas Day and that is what the reason for the Holiday season is for the majority of Americans. On the day of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or whatever other Holiday you may celebrate it is normal to say Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa just the same. As for the Christian books, Wal-mart sells what people are wanting to buy and what is in demand! I have seen alot of other books for sale in the store as well.

Answer 10

I go thier for their prices. I also lioke the convenience for the multitude of things that are available there.

Do you think that:
1) The owners might be Christian?
2) There is a lot of money that Christians spend at Christimas time?
3) That the issue wouldn't come up unless there was a devil in the world that wants the display of Christianity to stop?
4) That if it were neutered and appealing to multi cultural aspects, some Christians would be offended and wouldn't shop there?

As far as books go, I find their selection dismal. I am not into Rick Warren's brand of Christianity, though I agree with his stance on Gays, so that elimininates half the product. If I want books about Christianity, I will go to another favorite place of mine, Border's book stores, or Sonshine Chirstian Book Store, (Sonshine, not a typo).

Walmart having Christian displays is not a bad thing. It makes me feel more welcome, though I do not agree with Christmas as really being 'Christian.'

Answer 11

I really don't care what their take on Christianity is. I shop there for the purpose of getting everything I need in one place for the cheapest price. I have noticed their outstanding supply of christian based reading material. I don't involve myself with that, so I can just ignore it. I remember a time when Wal-mart did not carry any alcoholic beverages or cigarettes. Now they do. Times change and they are changing with them. They are just trying to attract more business by appealing to the Christians that shop there through the process of referal. I don't see me stopping my business there in the near future. With three kids, the convenience is necessary.