Non-Christians, do you ever boycott Christian companies?

Question

I mean explicitly Christian ones that try to sell a side of Gospel with your order, like Chick-Fil-A, or companies like Hobby Lobby and Domino's that fund Christian Right activities.

Like these:
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2007/8/23/142836/277

Why or why not?

Also, if you feel uncomfortable with a company's Christian agenda, do you worry that you're being intolerant?

I screwed up my word choices *twice*, as some kindly (or not so kindly) pointed out.

Yeah, "boycott" implies that one would otherwise patronize a business, plus it implies an organized effort. "Avoid" might have been better.

And "Christianist", as in the aggressive and bossy sort of Christianity these companies promote, would have been better than Christian. Of course I would never avoid (or advocate others avoid) a company just because a CEO or employee there was an observant Christian.

Next time I'll do better. Thanks for playing along anyhow.

Answer 1

I'm from Grand Rapids, where Amway is headquartered; just about anything that can have a corporate name on it is either Van Andel or DeVos. I don't use Amway products because: (in order from most to least important)
1.) they're pretty uniformly of low quality
2.) their sales techniques are obnoxious and reprehensible
3.) people who get into Amway disappear; I've had friends who got into drugs and I still see them once in a while, but once it's clear I'm not buying your shampoo or joining your crazy Ponzi scheme, Amway people just vanish, even if they were good friends (or relatives, in one case!)
4. ) my opposition to the idea of Dominionism

#1 + #2 would be enough to keep me from their stuff.

Answer 2

Well not on purpose.
I don't eat at Chick-Fil-A because they are stupid expenisve and not THAT good.
I shop at Hobby Lobby when I need something Wal-Mart doesn't have. But, I'm not a REAL crafty person to be honest.
I didn't know about Dominos but I like Mr. Jim's better. More for your buck.
LOL So I suppose maybe I subconciously boycott? If I had the time I would buy nothing but local. I hate funding corprate period. Except clothes. And shoes. I admit my addiction and refuse to let go. *sigh*
Intolerant? No. Now that I know these things? I'll be double sure to avoid them. But it's a matter of self respect I suppose. Why enable something I don't believe in? Plus, it's not like my not using is going to send them bankrupt since apparently I don't us them as it is.

Answer 3

No. But if there was a case where they did something very reprehensible such as fire workers for being gay, atheist, etc. then I would.

I think it's insane for companies to claim they're Christian - we have Christian dry cleaners and carpet cleaners. I think it's kind of strange, like HOW can you be a Christian dry cleaner? How does that make their company any better than the next? Do they pray out the stains? LOL. It doesn't disturb me, I just find it kind of loony.

I don't stop going to a store because they're Christian. That doesn't bother me. But, like I said, if I heard something SPECIFIC that had to do with prejudice of some sort, then I might find reason to boycott.

Answer 4

No, I don't boycott those companies. I do draw the line with a company who incorporates the Christian fish in their advertising. I feel they are using their faith to sell their business. That reeks of Christianism... using faith to sell.

Funny story... an atheist mom I know was getting some atheist materials copied this past week. THREE copy stores refused to copy her materials (a sheet with symbols that an organization is going to vote on... nothing illegal or offensive) before she finally found one who would copy it. The reason they wouldn't do the job? They all stated they are Christian companies and would not copy atheistic materials.

The woman herself OFTEN works with Christian organizations in her business and has never turned down a job regardless the beliefs a person or organization might practice.

Curious.

Answer 5

I avoid such companies as much as I possible can. I refuse to eat Dominoes and I will not drink ANY coors product whatsoever (they are bid contributrors too.) My objection to them is not necessarily that they dona'te to Christian groups or have a decidedly Christian agenda, it is more that becasue those groups and companies have publically portrayed themsleves as makei the sorts of effots outlined in the ariticle it is best that MY money does not go to further their actions which are ultimately geared to oppose anyone that does not agree with them. Intolerance? No. Self preservation? Yep.

Answer 6

I boycotted Bess Eaton (coffee chain) after I saw scripture on their coffee cups. I also stay far, far away from Wal-Mart. They claim that 90-something % of their employees have health care, but guess what: they only provide 47% of it.
I basically boycott companies that have an agenda other than selling products for basic human needs - if they're out to promote an anti-human rights doctrine, or blindside people with backwards religious crap, I stay the hell away. That includes the infamous Seton Health - Catholic doctors, awful people.

Answer 7

I haven't boycotted any. I wasn't aware of any except Wal Mart until now. It does kind of annoy me when Hobby Lobby isn't open on a Sunday though. Maybe in the past this is something I would have done, but my tolerance for christians has improved. I don't feel the need to be that spiteful.

Answer 8

I didn't know about Chick-Fil-A or Hobby Lobby, but the former sucks anyway and the latter I wouldn't have an interest in.

I used to boycott Domino's because they gave money to terrorist organizations like "Operation Rescue" but now it's a non-issue because the one near my apartment went out of business anyway.

Answer 9

I do not fund companies that spread their religion, however, I do fund some companies whose CEOs I disagree with, because I don't think that what the CEO does is necessarily a reflection of the business.
I'm a buybluer, a localvore and a union shopper, too.

And chick-fil-a has never had me as a customer for two reasons....their goofy policies and their stupid name.

Boycott means you'd start going if they stopped their activities...um. My dollars are about SUPPORTING people I agree with, not refusing people I don't.

Answer 10

I see no reason to boycott those businesses. Many corporations donate money to lots of places, usually they are at least well intentioned. I see no reason to go out of my way just because I don't have the same beliefs as a corporation espouses.