The following was posted on Yahoo’s Business Insider on June 14.
Talking about religion and politics can be dangerous among friends. It’s doubly so for businesses.
That double-edged sword became crystal clear last year after Chick-fil-A’s COO made comments about the chain’s opposition to gay marriage. It sparked a massive backlash from the media, gay and lesbian couples, and even the mayor of Boston.
The controversy also helped the company shatter sales records after former Arkansas governor and Fox commentator Mike Huckabee organized a “Chick-fil-A appreciation day.”
Many other big companies in America are also religious, including some that might surprise you.
1. Chick-fil-A provoked a firestorm of criticism after its COO made comments about gay marriage.
Founded by devout Southern Baptist Truett Cathy in 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia, Chick-fil-A has since expanded to become a major American fast-food chain, with more than 1,500 locations in 39 states.
Throughout its success, the company has stuck to its founder’s religiously-motivated decision to be closed on Sundays, and has donated significant amounts of money to conservative groups.
The chain’s religious bent turned controversial last year after Truet’s son and Chick-fil-A COO Dan Cathy made controversial comments about gay marriage, saying, about the company that “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit”
2. Forever 21 prints a reference to one of the most oft quoted passages of the New Testament on the bottom of all of its bags.
Purchase a skimpy $15 top or $19 skirt from trendy but budget-conscious clothing retailer Forever 21 and you may notice “John 3:16” printed on your shopping bag.
Printed on the bottom of each of the store’s bags, the biblical reference is perhaps the most obvious reference to the religious beliefs promoted by the store’s owners, the Chang Family, who are born-again Christians.
Mrs. Chang told Bloomberg Businessweek last year that the store had religious roots, citing that “God told her she should open a store and that she would be successful.”
The store provoked criticism in the summer of 2011 when it released a slew of religious-themed tees emblazoned with slogans such as “Jesus ♥ You” and “Holy.”
3. Tyson Foods employs 1290 office chaplains to provide “compassionate pastoral care” to employees
Many customers may not realize it, but Tyson Foods is a very religious company that embraces spirituality in the workplace.
Founder John Tyson speaks openly about his Christian beliefs, and the company’s core values say that it “strive(s) to honor God” and “be a faith-friendly company.”
Since 2000, the company has employed approximately 120 office chaplains who are there to provide “compassionate pastoral care” to employees, according to Tyson’s website.
4. In-N-Out, the California-based burger chain is beloved for its commitment to fresh ingredients and its secretive “special menu.”
is also well known for the citation of Bible passages printed on the chain’s cardboard cups, containers and wrappers.
The company does not address religion or the passages on their website. Company spokesman Carl Van Fleet told USA Today in 2005 that the founders’ son Richard Snyder instituted the practice. “He told me, ‘It’s just something I want to do.'”
5. Alaska Airlines passes along an inspirational notecard with an Old Testament passage with your breakfast.
Fly aboard Alaskan Air and you’re likely to get some bible passages along with your in-flight breakfast.
Each breakfast tray comes with an inspirational notecard printed with a passage from the Old Testament, a company tradition dating back several decades.
Salon columnist Patrick Smith took issue with the notecard, and received this message in response from the Seattle-based company: “The quotes have application across many Judeo-Christian beliefs and are shared as a gesture of thanks which reflect the beliefs of this country’s founding as in the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, Pledge of Allegiance and every U.S. coin and dollar you handle. Alaska Airlines is an international carrier with very diverse customers, and we have no intentions of offending anyone or their beliefs. An overwhelming majority of our customers have indicated they appreciate the gesture, and those who don’t are not forced to read it.”
6. You may still find a Book of Mormon alongside the Bible in your Marriott hotel room.
Marriott Hotel founder John Willard Marriott was a devout Mormon who held leadership positions within the church at the same time he was building his hotel empire.
While Marriott passed away in 1985, his religious legacy has lived on within the family-run hotel chain, which is known for sometimes putting the Book of Mormons along with Bibles in hotel rooms.
The company also recently announced that it would no longer offer pay-per-view pornography in its hotel rooms.
7. JetBlue founder David Neeleman was featured in a book titled “The Mormon Way Of Doing Business”
JetBlue’s so-called “homesourcing“— the relocation of its phone reservation system to 700 stay-at-home workers based in Salt Lake City — provides a hint to its CEO’s religious roots.
Founder and CEO David Neelman, a devout Mormon father-of-nine, once traveled to Brazil as a Mormon missionary, according to a 2002 USA Today profile.
And it’s a big reason Neeleman prioritizes customer service. “My missionary experience obliterated class distinction for me,” he said to author Jeff Benedict in “The Mormon Way of Doing Business.” “I learned to treat everyone the same. If anything, I have a disdain for the upper class and people who think they are better than others.”
8. Interstate Batteries includes references to the glory of God alongside its products in its online mission statement.
Interstate Batteries speaks to its own religious identity in its mission statement.
According to the company’s website, the mission is “to glorify God as we supply our customers worldwide with top quality, value-priced batteries, related electrical power-source products, and distribution services.”
Former Company President Norm Miller was recognized last year by Dallas Baptist University for “his strong Christian leadership at Interstate Batteries as well as in the community.”
9. The Trijicon sight has a coded reference to Bible verse John 1:7
Weapons-sight maker Trijicon made waves in 2010 when an ABC Nightline investigation found that the company had inscribed coded biblical references on high-powered rifle sights used by the U.S. military.
Military officials told ABC they were unaware of the inscriptions, which violated U.S. military rules banning the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Michigan-based company at the time acknowledged the codes and told ABC that the practice started under its founder, Glyn Bindon, a devout Christian who was killed in a 2003 plane crash.
10. Hobby Lobby sued the government on religious grounds over being required to provide emergency contraception.
Hobby Lobby, a national chain of roughly 500 arts-and-craft stores in 41 states makes the company’s religious beliefs quite clear.
The company’s first mission statement is “Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles,” according to its website, and ends with, “We believe that it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, we trust Him for our future.”
Since 1997, the company has run full-page religious ads in every newspaper in which they advertise for holidays including Easter and Christmas.
The company unsuccessfully sued the government over a government mandate requiring that they cover emergency contraception for employees due to the founder’s religious beliefs.
11. ServiceMaster‘s core commitment is to “honor God in all we do.”
ServiceMaster may not be a household name, but several of its brands — which include Merry Maids, Terminix and American Home Shield — are.
Former Minor League Baseball player Marion E. Wade founded the company in 1929 and worked to incorporate his “strong personal faith and a desire to honor God in all he did,” according to the Service Master website.
This translated into the company’s “foundational commitment” to “Honor God in all we do.”
12. Mary Kay founder Mary Kay Ash attributed her success to her company’s commitment to God.
In a 1997 interview Mary Kay Ash, founder of the cosmetics behemoth of the same name, attributed her company’s success to the choice to “take God as our partner.”
She expounded on these views in her biography, “Mary Kay: You Can Have it All,” where she stated, “God has blessed us because our motivation is right. He knows I want women to be the beautiful creatures he created.”
The religious bent has caused controversy from some of the company’s salespeople, who have said it promotes a cult-like environment.
13. Texas based grocery chain H.E.B‘s Vice Chairman runs a Christian retreat center.
H.E.B., a grocery-store chain with hundreds of stores in Texas and Mexico, grew from a single-family owned store opened by Florence Butt in Kerrville, Texas in 1905.
Company Vice Chairman Howard E. Butt Jr. is also a self-described “spiritual reformer,” who joined with Rev. Billy Graham in the 1950s to create “spiritual programs for business professionals.” He left his full time role at the company to become a preacher at Graham’s advice, and now oversees the administration of “Laity Lodge,” a Christian retreat center in Texas.
H.E.B. stores used to be closed on Sundays and prohibit the sale of alcohol until 1976, when a new president changed the rules.
14. Curves founder Gary Heavin is an outspoken Christian and supporter of conservative and religious causes.
CommonsCurves gyms are nationally known for creating a men-free environment where women of all shapes and sizes can work out.
It’s lesser known that the company’s founder Gary Heavin, is a born-again Christian who has garnered criticism for conservative political views and donating to anti-abortion causes, according to a 2004 Houston Chronicle profile.
Heavin acknowledged there has been some business “fallout” from his views, which prompted some members to cancel memberships.
15. The founder of Tom’s of Maine is a Harvard Divinity school graduate who emphasizes his faith in his business.
Tom’s of Maine, a natural products retailer best known for its toothpaste, is not that outwardly religious. But its founder Tom Chappell is an active Episcopalian, who graduated from Harvard Divinity School.
Chappell discusses his path from divinity school to business CEO in his book, “The Soul of a Business: Managing for Profit and the Common Good.” While at the school, a professor recommended that he treat his business like a ministry, so that’s what he did.
It has worked its way into Tom’s mission statement, which says it exists, in part, “To help create a better world by exchanging our faith, experience, and hope.”
16. Timberland CEO Jeff Swartz says his Jewish faith motivated him to sever ties with a Chinese factory.
Timblerland CEO Jeff Swartz is well-known for his commitment to promoting corporate social responsibility.
For example, Swartz moved to sever the company’s ties with a Chinese factory where human rights violations were allegedly occurring despite the fact that it took a hit to the shoe making company’s bottom line. Swartz attributed his motivation to his own personal Jewish faith in a 2008 Fast Company profile.
“I can’t show you the scripture that relates to the rights of a worker, but I can show you text that insists upon treating others with dignity,” he said. “It says in the Hebrew Bible one time that you should love your neighbor as yourself, but it says dozens of times that you shall treat the stranger with dignity.”
17. Meetings at fast food chain Carl’s Jr’s start with the Pledge Of Allegiance and a prayer.
Carl Karcher, who founded the company, was a committed Catholic who funded Catholic charities, and started a tradition of saying the Pledge of Allegiance and having a prayer before meetings that persists to this day, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
The company’s current CEO, Andy Puzder, was a close friend of the deceased Karcher, and shares the same religious convictions according to The Orange County Register.
18. Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) owns The Los Angeles Galaxy and a variety of other companies. Its founder Phil Anschutz is a prominent Christian activist.
Phil Anschutz owns a massive array of businesses, ranging from sports teams like the LA Galaxy, to the oil companies that originally made his family’s fortune, and the Coachella music festival.
Anschutz is a large conservative donor whose political and religious leanings make it through to his businesses. He’s the owner of conservative publications The Washington Examiner and The Weekly Standard, and has funded family friendly and Christian leaning films like The Chronicles Of Narnia.
He’s supported controversial legislation, like Colorado’s Amendment 2, which reduced gay rights protections and was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court.
To read original story, click here.
I know the history of Carl’s Jr., but I absolutely refuse to go there anymore because their TV ads are absolutely awful, full of sex (usually) and innuendo. What a shame. I really miss that Fried Zucchini.
Watch for Coventry Trucking on the road. Their trucks have the statement: “A child, not a choice”.
Whoops, sorry; I meant Covenant Trucking.
Yes! I see them on the long, lonely stretches of I-10 in east Riverside County quite often. Many of them say “She’s a child, not a choice”. Lifts me up all the time.
I don’t consider Carl’s Jr to be religious…maybe religious in sexual commercials…
Well now the haters know who to target
If I recall correctly (please correct me if I am wrong), before Carl Karcher died he was voted off the board of directors by the other board members. He was vehemently opposed to those awful advertisements, which were only being proposed at the time. Of course, we all know about those adds. now. I too was a faithful customer of Carls Jr., but no more. Apparently, the adds. are a hit with most customers however, because they haven’t ditched them yet.
I believe that the only way for these businesses to maintain their ideals is to never go “public”. (as in “public” i.e. shareholders vs. “private” business)
Tracy,
In private conversation, Carl expressed to me how sorry he was that he had recruited Puzder. Puzder is a big powerful man and I am a retired ex-Engineering Marketing Manager, but I don’t care because my God said “the truth shall set you free”! He is much much much more powerful, I believe the proper term is infinitely, than Puzder!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
I heard that the same people who have control of Carl’s junior also bought Hostess…..they are an investment group or so. I guess the tweenkies are coming back soon…
When they started having Huge Hefner do advertisemenst for them, I stop going there unless it is absolutely necessary. They finally took him off but the commercials are still bad.
Carl and Margaret were both good friends, so when I started getting calls about the filthy commercials I called their house in Anaheim where I had dinner on many occasions, one time with Archbishop Khai. Margaret answered the phone and cried to me and made it very clear to me that they were very distraught at these commercials, but they really could only complain because under West Point, and Harvard trained Puzder, “they were only employees and THEY would fire them if they made too much noise.” At one time Puzder and company actually did try to fire Carl but the employees made such a stink, he backed off.
Maybe the pro sodomite O.C. Register says they were friends, but I really doubt it. I even called Puzder once and had some strong words with him. Oh yeah, I also told him “May God have mercy on your soul!” He didn’t like it, but I thank God I said it. Probably the only reason Puzder even talked to me is because I made it very clear that I was friend of the Karchers.
Carl told me he took great pride in personally calling every person from the lowest to the highest when they got promoted. I was in his Office one day when he made such a call. I was also in his office when he called that Laker (the one who got AIDS from sex with over 1000 sluts) Basketball player and told him he no longer represented what Carl believed in and that he was returning his basketball jersey that he had in his office. Carl also took moral satisfaction in closing his stores on Christmas and Easter, something Puzder has completely reversed.
Please don’t rely on the Libertarian O.C. Register for anything. If you don’t want to believe my statement about their being pro-gay, read their paper from today, 6-27-13. Most of it is about praising the “decision” made by the sick SCOTUS on sodomite marriage.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Carl’s Jr. lascivious ads are disgusting. I won’t eat there. Who compiled this list of religious companies and what were the criteria for selecting the companies?
Many years ago, I took the deposition of Carl Karcher, having to do with his being deposed as CEO (I believe… so many cases over 32 years, it’s hard to remember details). I’m not an attorney. I worked as a court reporter. As I walked up the staircase, there was a huge, beautiful, wooden statute of St. Francis. I was not Catholic at the time, but I could sense what a wonderful person Carl was. I understand one of his many children is a Priest and one (or more) of his daughters are nuns. Very sad the way he was treated. Very sad the way his company is apparently devolving. Many, many successful companies do not survive after the first-generation founders pass on.
Laura,
Carl and Margaret probably had more religious statues and paintings in their house than do many of the modern Churches today!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
When the Karchers lost control, the company changed, and I stopped buying burgers there. When integrity ceases, so deceit increases. A few years ago Carl’s Jr tv commercials used some sort of fetus image to talk jive to someone outside its womb … or some such thing … No dignity outside, thus no dignity inside. Weird and perverse advertizing since then.
Deceit in the marketing of food: Eg, local grocery chain boasts about their meat. They sell a packaged product called “organic ground beef”. It is pink, slimey and smells weird and bad as well … “pink slime” is the phrase used to describe meat product which has been rejected now by public school systems … Guess they repackaged it and are selling it as organic; I’d call it organic pink slime … texture same as fine mush. Just got back from Oregon, where the food is real and actual … amazing to experience the difference between paper mache’ sold in southern Calif and disguised as all sorts of types of food, and real food sold in another state. I suspect the gays are behind this deception since they are the epitome of deceivers.
I wonder whom they’re praying to at Carl’s Jr. meetings? Because of their provocative, hedonistic commercials (Hefner, Hilton, Kardashian, Klum, et al.), Catholic Thomas Aquinas College in California had Carl’s Jr. CEO resign from its Board of Governors – Bravo! Carl Karcher, no doubt, turning in his grave.
Hymie,
I wondered the same thing when I read it here!
I did not know that St. Thomas Aquinas College had Puzder resign. I am sure that Carl and Margaret had something to do with that from Heaven. Pray for Puzder.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Actually, they were both living (2003) when the first Hefner commercial hit. The college’s response and the subsequent resignation were immediate.
I found the inclusion of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) to be an eye opener. I have heard nothing but bad press on them. My suspicions should have been raised that they might be heavy contributors to conservative causes based solely on the bases of the non-stop bad press they have been receiving.
Years ago, when I started to hear so much negativity about Wal-mart, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I eventually discovered that Wal-mart primarily contributes to conservative causes. I further discovered that Costco contributes primarily to leftist causes. Neither Wal-mart nor Costco are unionized, however, the only company of the two that are harassed for this fact is Wal-mart.
Now I am not suggesting that AEG or Wal-mart are whiter-than-snow. What I do know however, is that conservative companies have been historically demonized by Leftist, which we know dominate the media. The media is very powerful. As in most things the old adage rings true, “follow the money trail” I now try to keep updated on media bias through the Media Research Center’s website.
Tracy – About two months ago, Forbes (liberal viewpoint? no way!) had an article comparing how Costco and Wal-Mart treat their employees. Boiled down, Costco pays good wages (usually well above minimum wage) and provides great benefits, while Wal-Mart squeaks by providing employees with as little as possible. Although it wasn’t in this article, it has been noted before that Wal-Mart employees often have to rely on food stamps and hospital emergency rooms to take care of their families. Meanwhile, EACH member of the Walton family has their own fantastic mansion. Nothing wrong with enjoying one’s money, but really… treating your employees that way while they are the ones who provide the means to your wealth?
In fact, recent Wal-Mart commercials are trying desperately to overcome the negative perceptions from these policies. But, numbers are numbers, facts are facts.
What was it that Jesus said about helping others? And about rich people getting into Heaven? Liberal and conservative “biases” aside, which of these two companies is the more “Christian”?
In fact, from this whole article, I consider any company to be “religious” based on how it treats employees and customers / clients, NOT on how many Bible verses are dislayed or prayers are said at meetings.
TedNor, are you implying that Forbes is coming from a conservative view point? Anyway, I personally know Walmart employees who left Target because of the lousy wages and benefits and are now very happy with their situation at Walmart. So I suppose that this is all debatable. I know the argument you make about Costco vs. Walmart, but this doesn’t change the fact that Costco primarily supports liberal causes and Walmart primarily supports conservative causes and that neither of them are unionized. We know that the main stream media is biased toward liberalism, so I will stand by what I said in my earlier post.
In our area it seems like the Target store employees are happier and more helpful, but the company does give to some bad causes. I avoid Costco most of the time, but some family members do go there. Most often the money I save will go to some pro life, pro traditional family group when I shop there. It is impossible to avoid all that is tainted.
Carl’s Jr. sexual commercials…can’t say I’ve ever seen one. Stop complaining and throw away your TV and get rid of that satellite dish.
I likw EWTN and some televsion programs, one cannot avoid everything and live like a hermit, unless one really want to do so.
Nevertheless, I avoid the programs that use those commercials.
Why do big companies have to give money to or endorse any cause, whether religious or political? Could it be that the IRS manipulates the destination of tax write offs?
Anne T: Any excuse works when you want one. I don’t “live like a hermit”, but I live without TV and EWTN is not infallible. If you are watching TV you are being brainwashed and your intellect corrupted. No offence intended ma’am, just stating the facts.
Ron, my husband and I sometimes watch a program about loggers on the History Channel (I think). One of the loggers shouts, “Jesus I trust in you,” when the tree is coming down. I assume it is a prayer for the safety of his men since logging is still a very dangerous things. There are some good and informative things on television if one turns the channel quickly and does not turn it on when young people are around. I really do not watch it very much — mostly the news to keep abreast of things.
Our youngest daughter and her husband only use their television at night for sports occasionally when there children are sleeping, and the only time they turn it on during the day for their three small children is to play learning DVD’s since my daughter home schools them mostly. They get a lot of socializing, though, with other children who are being taught good Christian values and with other home schoolers.
Anne T. I would suggest that you find other sources for the news rather than from the main stream media. The main stream media filters the news toward their liberal bias. Even if the stories are true, their choices as to what they include, as well as, what is excluded are usually based on the purpose of manipulating our emotions toward their liberal view of the world.
Some would argue that the conservative media does the same, however, there are a few huge differences. First is that conservatives tell you out right that their “opinions” are conservative. The liberal news people like to tell us that they are unbiased. Secondly, conservative news sources will include events which the “mainstream” media ignores as if they never existed. They include liberal news as well. Thirdly, the conservative media are more likely to question what both conservative and liberal interviewees say. The liberal media typically only scrutinizes those on the right.
All readers of this article might be interested as well in our John 3:16 ministry page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saintjohn316ministries
I actually found this article by typing in “John 3:16” in Google
and
THANK YOU for this eye opening list of Christian based companies.
May the Lord bless you mightily for your efforts !