Is this Starbuck's cup offensive?

Question

I was sent this WorldNutDaily article about an "anti-God" Starbuck's cup that angered a Christian customer:

http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55564

The cup's side says:

"Why in moments of crisis do we ask God for strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well be a figment of our imaginations for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the catastrophes we need to endure."

Do you think Starbuck's should have had this quote on the cup? (They have had quotes by Christian authors, too.) Would it offend you to see that? Do you even read the side of the cup? Or, in short, what do you think of this?

Answer 1

Starbuck's has a right to print what they want.

The customer has a right to buy (or not) what they want.

Personally, I did not care for the message on the cup, and I'm not even Christian, but I do have a strong belief in God.

As I see it, the messages are to provoke thought.
And if all the messages were as tame as milquetoast, then what would the point be?

Answer 2

Why not, if they've put Christian authors on the sides of the cups. The customer should've gotten over it, it's not like the cup was actively trying to convert her or something, just quoting what someone said. I read the sides of the cups when I get starbucks, but I don't get starbucks very often.

It's not "Anti-God" at all!

Sorry, the more I think about it the more ticked off I'm getting.

Answer 3

If even I was a Christian I wouldnt be offended. I don't get offended when I read the "The Way I see It's" by christians. I just don't read them....Yes I read the sides all the time, they are usually very good.

And I think the quote is right. Why can't you find the strenght yourself? I mean if I was God I certainly wouldnt want to be bothered all the time by someone I created that could take care of themselves, but instead bothers me about every little thing.

Another persecution cry....

Answer 4

Well, clearly Starbucks wants to be "edgy" in thier pursuit of the youth market. Opinionated cups are going to find thier way to people who don't agree with the opinions stated, and if Starbucks is going to do that, they should expect fall out from it, but no doubt they are also expecting the stir to give them alot of free advertising as well. Like the lady said, I just want a cup of coffeee. If I want a lecture, or to listen to someone else's opinion about something, I will look for an appropriate place to get that. I don't like Starbucks coffee anyway. I stopped at a rest stop, and decided to try out the Starbucks one day, waited in line for 45 minutes to buy a cup, because I wanted to know what the big deal was that so many people were in line for it, and it was so scalding hot I couldn't drink it for at least 45 min after that, and the way they roast it, it tastes like it's burned, and that is apparently thier signature???? Give me Dunkin Donuts any day, thier coffee is awesome, and they don't want to tax me with pretentious, opinionated cups. If Starbucks wants to offer thier opinions unasked for, it's a free country, but they also need to understand that thier customers have opinions too, and they will offer them by buying or not buying thier product. I will say though, that I don't think it was intended to be hateful to anyone in particular, but to be thought provoking. If I did like thier coffee, I would probably continue to buy it, unless they started printing blatantly abusive or hateful speech on thier cups.

Answer 5

I think this is clearly not anti-God, but pro-taking responsibility for our own actions. If people are opposed to that, then I guess it would be offensive. The author could even be a Christian who simply admits we don't know and we should fix our own problems regardless.

The real point of the quote is a very powerful message and I wish everyone could see that.

Answer 6

That is one person's opinion, not Starbuck's policy. I go to Starbuck"s 3 or 4 times a year & rarely read the side of the cup.

Answer 7

Well, if they have quotes by Christian authors too, I believe they are supporting both sides of the story. I think they shouldn't of put anything on their cups. It's just a stunt to gain more useless attention.

Answer 8

I think there is a difference in the philosophy of this statement. I once heard a friend and preacher who was well versed in THE WORD, explain to me that Salvation is not a privelege we earn it is a gift of GOD. But there are subjects in this life we do control without GOD pulling our strings. HIS concepts influence how we eat, drive work etc. and some may find it a comfort to pray for HIS guidance. But I think this statement could marking this difference, in that it sounds like an environmental statement, where some would pray fro GOD to mend the environment and others would say take action yourselves. I think GOD would approve of both. For example driving a suburban to church to pray for the environment. or campaign for radical changes in the government to strangle its citzens when he has 12 gas guzzlers positioned at his 6 estates around the USA.

Answer 9

It's only offensive to those myopic individuals who got out of bed this morning with the goal of being offended by something, perhaps in hopes of filing suit to make a quick buck so that they can sit at home all day at eat Ho-Ho's, watch Montel Williams, and talk on their cell phones (for which they've yet to pay a bill) and tell all their friends how persecuted they are.

Answer 10

I don't drink Starbuck's. It is too expensive, and not worth the price. I get my coffee from a roaster in Canada. Jamaican Blue Mountain. Much better, and I get it cheaper.