Christians, Jews, Muslims and others...will you boycott Starbucks?

Question

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55627 )

Is this the kind of message Starbucks needs to send? They say they want to cause discussion, but isn't it really just their one-sided viewpoint? True discussion includes other viewpoints. But, it seems to me the only purpose of Starbuck’s new cups is to stir up anti-God feelings and showcase their corporate atheistic views. Was this a wise decision for Starbucks? How many times have church groups and God-believers met at this coffee bar? It seems that Starbucks is trying to offend all religious people. At least 75 to 80% of Americans believe there is a God.

If burnt coffee isn’t bad enough already, here’s another reason go elsewhere---

These are just two messages, Starbucks decided we all need to hear and printed on their cups:

"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."

“Heaven is totally overrated. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people play the harp. It should be somewhere you can’t wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies and soft music were enough to keep people in line in the 17th century, but Heaven has to step it up a bit. They're basically getting by because they only have to be better than Hell”. -- Joel Stein, columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Answer 1

I have the strangest feeling that the authors of those messages belong to the same addled crowd of Starbucks drinkers I see around here;...
... constantly b!tching about the price of gas being over $3 a gallon while they sip on their $4 cup of coffee.

In that approximately 7-in-10 of the world's population adheres to theistic beliefs,...
... and only 1-in-10 are non-theistic 'humanists' (atheists, agnostics, etc.),...
... it would seem that the demographic analysts on Starbucks' 'market research' team are in dire need of a strong cup of coffee;... better make it a Venti!

Starbucks would be better off not promoting ANY religious or political agendas: It's just good business-sense.
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Answer 2

I'm a Christian and I think that the people who get all up in arms about this are causing the Christian cause more harm than good. As the WND article says clearly, they've printed messages that are clearly pro-God like the quote by Rick Warren. I believe they can print whatever the heck they want on their cups. Besides, in this case they're just giving their customers a "soapbox" to voice their ideas and opinions.
If they refused to print quotes that had a pro-christian message, then I might have a problem with Starbucks, but it seems to me they're printing a variety of messages. I personally don't give a crap about their overpriced stuff, while my wife is an addict.
I have family that works for Starbucks, and they're a very good company to work for. If we keep harassing them they'll take their business (and the jobs) somewhere else. That's the last thing this country needs.

Answer 3

My cup has written, 'Heaven is totally overrated. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people plays the harp. It should be somewhere you can't wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies & soft music were enouph to keep people in line in the 17the chentury, but Heaven has to step it up a bit. They're basically getting by because they only have to be better than hell.' Joel Stein, Columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He obviously isn't aware that being with the Lord in heaven is much better than this.

Joel Stein needs prayer.

It is written that heaven is too wonderful to describe. So? How can we describe it. And then also that we can't know the wonders the Lord has prepared for us who love Him. But the Lord teaches us. We have an example when the Spirit falls on the congregation in praise & worship.

The first paragraph?
I would be dead if I didn't ask God for strength & help in time of need. It is written that as children of God, we can come boldly to the Throne of Grace in hour of need, 24/7.
God isn't a figment of my imagination. God is very real to me. As, he has done miracles in my life & His Word has set me free from bondages (like tobacco addiction). And He has done' miracles in people who I know, their lives.
So? I did search for the power to overcome during a 1 yr breakdown. I only had victory at the end of that year when before the congregation at a Church where I stood desparate before the Lord. As it is written. Who is he who overcomes? He who is born of God. And what is our victory? Our faith.
The wages of sin is death. There is sin in our life that leads to catastrophes to endure. Or it is the sin of others around us or environmental sins. So? We have to bear this sin. But God sooo loved us that while we are yet sinners, Jesus shed His blood on Calvery for the remission of our sins. He paid the price for our sins. So? There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Thanks for this info. All we can do is shine our light on it. So? I'm not going to stop going there just yet, as the Lord has given me permission to go to Starbucks right now. If the Lord tells me to quit, then I will.

So? Shining the light on these personal opinions on the Starbucks coffee cup is good. They are full of misconceptions.

Maybe we can point to Joel Osteen. http://www.joelosteen.com .

Answer 4

I don't think people are likely to follow their script. Wouldn't last long in some non-Western countries with scripts like that though.

In the 18C coffee shops of London, much highly creative work was done - business, philosophy, literary discussion, politics. In France they had salons, where clever heads discussed all sorts of ideas, and combinations, encouraged and stimulated by others ideas. There's something about a relaxing atmosphere that can be very helpful for free flow of ideas.

The anti-God thing may be popular in certain circles in the US. We can just point to Robespierre's France, Stalin's USSR, Pol Pot's Cambodia and Mao's China though to show that in practice anti-God philosophy is worse than any existing religion when practiced by states.

Answer 5

no, I will not boycott SBs for this reason. As you imply, burnt coffee is bad enough. SBs has ruined a generation of coffee drinkers by a) over-roasting the beans and calling it 'strong', and b) loading it up with flavors and sugar until it doesn't taste like coffee. Hmmm. Maybe now I understand how they ended up with burnt beans. Michael Moore's documentary 'burned to hell', which was fictionalized in life story of Dr Evil and Number 2 using SBs to take over the world.
this is a giant step forward? stupidity

Answer 6

Honestly? Just like we expect people to hear us we also have to expect to hear others.

They are a secular company, what they print is of no consequence to me and is their business. They post different views of different people.

If heaven is nothing but clouds and harps then I'd say it sounds boring to me as well.

This is just one person's perspective, they are allowed to have it.

Boycotting a coffee shop will not change the world. Feeding the hungry, helping the poor, defending the weak, now that changes the world.

and yeah, I'm christian too.

-- wow, guess feeding the hungry and helping the poor was enough to get me a thumbs down. tsk tsk tsk

Answer 7

I say fine. I'm pretty sure God also says fine and "So be it." If ungodly people choose not to have God in their life, business, stores, etc..., than fine. Better for them not to project God Almighty than for them to slander, blasphemy, and do or say what the devil tells them too. Go read your bible and see what your Bible says on the final last scripture of Revelation. My NIV says Revelation ch.22 v.21: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with God's people. Amen. God belongs to us (faithful believer's) and as long as God is with you, who can be against you. Don't fret over it if ungodly people say we don't want God with us. True, God is not with them. Be thankful God is with you. Truthfully I want the government to say God cannot be with them. For I believe they use God to hide to do their evil deeds and that is more worst than Starbucks!
P.S. I agree with you, do not go to Starbucks with your money that you are helping them to campaign against God. To say I will still go and black out the message on the cup; than YOU as a believer is sending the wrong message to God.

UPDATE: Dear Nomadic, I need to inform you when it comes to God Almighty there is no "balance" in that way. God says "you are FOR ME or AGAINST ME. Anything in between is evil."

Answer 8

I just refuse to pay four bucks for awful coffee. I am also offended by the "McBohemian" marketing. They target upwardly mobile "Liberal" clientele with Psuedo-intelectual easy-listening jazz, or classical muzak. (Never any Stravinsky or Zappa) Lately pushing the latest piece of commercial drivel by Sir Paul (the walrus) McCartney.

Answer 9

I avoid them because I heard that they are working to undermine our Civil Rights, specifically the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

Answer 10

David beat me to it. Why would any reasonable person pay 4.00 for a cup of coffee. Convenience is not every thing.