Is this religious discrimination?

Question

One of the churches in my town (pop.12,000) has invited 15 local retail businesses to participate in a hoilday event. My New Age shop, which has been open in town for 10 years, has not been invited. when I questioned the organizer, I was told I should "have my own, maybe in the Spring." Since it's a church, they get all kinds of free publicity, which is extended to the businesses. This began last year & we were excluded, then too.

The idea is, you stop at one of the selected businesses, get a card, visit all the others who stamp the card, & win prizes.

I'm not sure who or how many other businesses were excluded.

So, my question is:

Is it discrimination?
Is it fair? It seems to go over the line. Should a church be allowed to help some shops & not others?
Is it christian?

What really bothers me, I think, is that for 10 years, we've been donating to every cause that shows up at our door, church benefits included. We've given nearly $10,000 over the years in product, gift certificates, scholarships, etc., trying to be a good neighbor. Then when something comes along that we could benefit from, we get..."do it yourself."
(I probably should have saved all that money to use on my own publicity.)

Answer 1

Look at it from the bright side. It means their business is going down the gutter while yours still stands. ;)

Answer 2

You know why they havn't invited you. It is your "New Age Shop" (which I regulate often). They are fearful of you, and once again judgement, prejudice and fear come into the picture. I wouldn't want to have anything to do with this Church or it's "Holiday Event".
Now - if that happened to me, I would gather all the stores that wern't invited, get them to rent out a really nice place, and have your own Holiday event. Outdo them, with the contents, decorating, and beauty of Christmas. Don't waste your time being angry and do nothing. Leave them to it. Put up posters all over the town, with a beautifully decorated poster. Have the beautiful Christmas Music - I said music - not carols. I love all Christmas Music but since they have pushed you aside, do something they will not be doing, and that is playing "Chestnuts" or "White Christmas", Really enjoy yourself and put yourself out. Make it a wonderful occasion by your positive thoughts and action and don't even give them a second thought.
Bythe way are there any other religions in the town that they have ignored,. I bet there is. Go to them, all, and tell them what you are doing and ask if they would like to be part of it.
Don't try and outdo them regarding what you sell, but what you give out to the community. I bet you anything you will get a lot of support and the occasion will be one for your memory books.
I don't know about you, but I feel very sorry for that particular church, they are judging, fearing, and being what Jesus did not want them to be. At Christmas time too, which makes it so much more hypocritical.
Love and Peace

Just read Marysia's answer to your question. You know sometimes reading answers in the R and S, is like reading a comic strip. They didn't ask you because you do not believe in Christianity. I hae read more about what Jesus teached in Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer, books that I have read in any other Christian book. That is what is so sad about this whole religious thing. They don't know about what the books in your shop is saying, they don't know what crystals are really all about (mostly for healing) They don't know what e New Age is about. All they know is that it is not what they want to hear and therefore you must be terribly wrong.
Deepak is always quoting The Master Jesus, and so is Wayne Dyer and all so called "New Age" writers. I have become more like what Jesus would want me to be by discovering new ways to know him, and Budha etc. Loving, Kind, generous, non-judgemental, thinking for myself, compassion, no fear, no dishonesty etc. etc. I let it go, and I let Got handle this in whatever way the universe wants it.
Peace and Love and forgiveness, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do>" Written in nearly every "New Age" book I have ever read.

Answer 3

Discrimination has 2 meanings, and that i think of our difficulty is that we are removing the two one among them! dis·crim·i·na·tion Noun: a million.The unjust or prejudicial scientific care of diverse categories of folk or issues, esp. on the grounds of race, age, or intercourse. 2.attractiveness and information of the version between one component and yet another. i think of we've exceptionally lots have been given rid of the 1st. i think of the subject is that throughout the time of society's zeal to make anybody be seen as equivalent, that is going too some distance and attempting to make anybody be seen as comparable - we are surely removing the 2d form of discrimination besides. Society has found out to understand how we are each of a similar. Now it has to start remembering lower back the approaches wherein we are diverse. whilst a Christians judgment of right and incorrect won't enable them to do some thing at paintings, the subject isn't that there is non secular discrimination - the subject is that there is an entire loss of discrimination, an utter lack of ability on the area of the regulation to 'understand and understand the version between one component and yet another', between a Christian and a non-Christian.

Answer 4

it would really depend - do any other the other shops conflict with the Christian teachings of the church? IMO a new age shop is completely against the teachings of the Christian church so why would you want to be involved with them? it's a juried show so unless they invite every single business except you - no it's not discriminating. it is selective yes, but that (it seems) is becuase they are going with like minded businesses. besides they are not doing it to help the shops but rather to give their parishioners a break and get things at a deal from places where THEY would shop - places that are not against their Christian practices.

please understand i mean no disrespect to your new Age shop -- it's just what i'm reading into your posting. New Age goes against Christianity so they wouldn't walk hand in hand in any business venture.

Answer 5

I am sure they are missing the point . We are told to get out and spead the word. why most churches just keep spreading it to the same people over and over and exclude others I will never know. They could try and include you and who knows.Only the Lord kows,sorry it is this way for you that is why most people are turned off by religion. I hope you pick up your bible and you may find out you are a christian

Answer 6

It is not religious discrimination, it is religious discernment. You have no more been discriminated against than a butcher who is passed over by vegetarians.Your values are not those of the church as well as your philosophies, therefore the church has the right to not invite you to an invitation only event.

Answer 7

Is it discrimination? Absolutely, but unfortunately not illegal discrimination.
Is it fair? Nope
Should a church be allowed to help some shops & not others? Yes, the church is a private organization and they can do whatever they want, in terms of business marketing.
Is it christian? Absolutely not Christian-like.

Answer 8

.....No, it is not discrimination....it is their right to not associate with you. Why would they won't to join hands with a person who leads people down the wrong road? A church can help or not help, whoever they please...why should you be able to make money from associating with a Church....your shop is an abomination to Christians.

Get your own unbelieving Friends to help you make money...maybe you could get all the nightclubs, and bars,,maybe a few porn shops and team up with them..

Answer 9

why don't you start your own promotion to compete with it.... it's a church discrimination is a founding principle of religion... stop sitting around whinning... get to gether with the others who were left out come up with something better then get the one's participating in the church's event to come to yours.... it's business dear... churches are big business... so fight it out on a business level

Answer 10

it is discrimination in a way, because they are excluding you most likely because of what you sell in your store. However, they are a church and they can do as they wish, they can leave out whoever they want. That's just the hard facts of life. Though I must admit, it's still not very fair.
BB

Answer 11

They don't have to promote your store. I'd take her suggestion seriously and have a different party. Invite others who were excluded.
If you want to get nasty you could try getting their non-profit status revoked since they are involving themselves in secular matters. Don't know if it would work, but it would cost them to defend their actions.