On Religion

As many readers may know, I’m not religious. Of course, as one who values liberty, I have no issues with other people being religious and expressing their beliefs.
That said, I have to wonder why companies do stuff like this. Sure, it’s subtle and not many people would notice it, but what’s the point? Does it bring anyone to the faith (( A question I want to ask to the guy who stands around on the street corner with a “Jesus Is Lord” sign — are his daily sign-holding efforts paying off? Has his work changed the mind of anyone? ))? If not, why bother?
Similarly, I don’t really get why companies like Interstate Batteries (( “Mission: To glorify God as we supply our customers worldwide with top quality, value-priced batteries…” )) and Hogdon Powder (( “Our mission is to provide quality propellants, other products, and services to sportsmen, governing units, and other businesses in a manner which enhances the quality of life for our stockholders, employees, customers, associates, and suppliers. In doing so, we will deal with integrity and honesty, reflecting that people are more important than dollars and that our purpose is to bring credit to our Lord Jesus Christ.” )) bother to bring up the owner’s respective deity on their company literature. They’re selling batteries and gunpowder, not religion-related items, so it just seems out of place. Same thing with In-N-Out Burger’s subtle bible citations on cups and burger wrappers, and Alaska Airline’s bible verse sheet with food.
Surely such large and diverse companies employ and sell products/services to non-Christians. Why risk offending employees and customers and, in the case of Trijicon, causing media commotion? Is putting those markings or making those statements worth the potential trouble?
I, for one, don’t see what real benefits such actions might have. Then again, I don’t associate my religious beliefs (or, more precisely, the lack thereof) deeply with my personal identity, and have no desire to discuss such my lack of religious beliefs in day-to-day discussion (I only bring it up here so one can further understand my viewpoint).? I certainly wouldn’t go about inscribing quotations about my non-religious stance (if I can be said to have such a stance; I don’t consider a lack of a specific belief to be a “stance”) on products that I sell to the public.
At the risk of sparking a religious flamewar, I’m curious to hear possible explanations as to why people do such things. I can’t seem to wrap my mind around it. As religion-related topics seem to be a surefire way to summon the Drama Llama in other internet forums, I’d like to preemptively remind people to keep things civil. No doubt such an admonition is unnecessary.

9 thoughts on “On Religion”

  2. As a fairly non-religious guy (I’m nominally Christian, and culturally Catholic, but not at all a church goer) i’ll take a stab at this one.
    This is who they are. they are under no obligation to hide their identity. moreover, they realize almost no one cares what their religion is. at least not enough to refuse to purchase their products. there will be a few people who will not buy, and an even fewer number who will make total asses out of themselves bitching about it, but lets face it. who looks stupider, the Christian gun sight manufacturer or the militant atheist wackjobs complaining that “JN8:12” lettering on the ACOG of that sharpshooter who just blasted a jihadi is adding insult to injury?
    Now if Trijicon was run by a gay couple, and they put a tiny rainbow flag on their gunsights, would there be any whining? no. They’d be hailed as heros.
    I buy the best product i can, for the money i can spend. unless i believe that the guy i am paying is actually on the other side, i don’t care if there is a picture of the Flying Spaghetti Monster on it.

  3. a) for some Christian sects, it is good or a requirement to proselytize
    b) actions have consequences, they realize this and are prepared to accept possible loss of business, because they see a greater reward down the road

  4. Interesting. Thanks for the response.
    Sean: It doesn’t have to be militant atheists who do the complaining; it could be a member of any of the numerous other religions out there.
    Using the gay couple example, there might well be whining, both from people opposed to homosexuality for whatever reason, and then by others who don’t really think it’s something that should be put on a gun sight (or whatever product) any more than a note saying the owner of the company is straight.
    Personally, I really don’t care either way, but I find it a bit weird for companies as diverse as gun sight makers, burger chains, distributors of batteries, airlines, and gunpowder makers to be putting such stuff on their products. I’d think the same thing if they were putting any other religious symbolism on their products as well. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop buying their products or services, just that I think it’s a bit weird.

  5. To answer your footnotes:
    A question I want to ask to the guy who stands around on the street corner with a ?Jesus Is Lord? sign ? are his daily sign-holding efforts paying off? Has his work changed the mind of anyone?
    Whether or not anyone “Comes to Jesus” is secondary to such people. The point is (for them) is to convict others of their sin, but more importantly, proclaim their own righteousness to the world, and any criticism of their preaching is further proof of their (self-) righteousness. Personally, I don’t see the point of going to the street corners to condemn the world of it’s sin. The world is already condemned: It’s been that way since the fall of Man, so why would anyone want to add to what God has already done Himself?
    ?Mission: To glorify God as we supply our customers worldwide with top quality, value-priced batteries??
    ?Our mission is to provide quality propellants, other products, and services to sportsmen, governing units, and other businesses in a manner which enhances the quality of life for our stockholders, employees, customers, associates, and suppliers. In doing so, we will deal with integrity and honesty, reflecting that people are more important than dollars and that our purpose is to bring credit to our Lord Jesus Christ.?
    I look at this (and In N Out, et al) as an extension of the Shaker ethic, and that extends from 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. “, so it’s no longer me doing a good job at what I do because I want to do a good job, I do a good job because in doing so, I bring glory to God.
    Now, that being said, I don’t eat at In N Out because they have Bible verses on their shake cups, I eat their ’cause I like Double-Doubles. :). No amount of Bible verses can make up for a lousy product.

  6. The motivations are very similar to why people open carry. Is it effective at the purpose many promote as a reason to practice? Does it matter? This is religion we’re talking about here. The faith must be spread to the unbelievers.

  7. Personally I am not religiously affiliated with any one god or another.
    That being said can I get my scope with EZ25:17 in the serial number????

  8. Obviously it’s done for convenience.
    It’s easier to cling to guns and religion when you only have to hold one object.

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